You might be surprised, but neither cocoa powder nor dark chocolate fall into the ultraprocessed category. Not by the NOVA labeling system (class 3) and not by FDA standards. The FDA released a paper jsut last year stating: " In our view, chocolate

should not be classified as an ultra-processed food because of simple processing steps, limited

ingredients, and being an important part of a healthy diet when consumed in moderation".

Carob is an emerging alternative to cacao, but its safety has not been established yet in sufficient detail to make any recommendations.

Have you tried carob-based chocolate? if yes, how does it compare to regular chocolate? I haven't even come across it in my neck of the woods.