what percentage is semi sweet chocolate

Semi-sweet chocolate typically contains a cocoa percentage ranging from 35% to 65% . However, there is no precise amount of sugar that categorizes chocolate as semi-sweet, and the range of sweetness in semi-sweet chocolate can vary greatly from bar to bar. The distinction between semi-sweet and bittersweet chocolate is based on the cocoa percentage, with semi-sweet being the sweetest of the dark chocolate brigade. The only FDA requirement for something to be labeled as dark, bittersweet, or semi-sweet chocolate is that it must contain at least 35% cacao and less than 12% milk solids. Therefore, semi-sweet chocolate is a type of dark chocolate with a lower cacao content and a sweeter taste compared to bittersweet chocolate. It is important to note that the percentage of cocoa, the type of cocoa used, and the brand can all affect the sweetness and darkness of a batch of chocolate.