The percentage of cocoa solids refers to the total percentage of ingredients derived from the cocoa bean in the chocolate. The higher this number, typically the richer and less sweet the chocolate will be. The percentage can be both chocolate liquor (ground cocoa nibs) as well as cocoa butter.

Cacao percentage (cocoa solids) = chocolate liquor + cocoa butter.

Unless specifically shown on the package, the amounts of each are difficult to determine. Some manufacturers add cocoa powder as part of the cocoa solids, but this results in chocolate with inferior flavor.

Typically, the remaining percentage is sugar, small amounts of soy lecithin (an emulsifier) and vanilla (usually no more than .5%).