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Who makes the best vegan chocolate?

Whether you’re after a silky milk chocolate, indulgent truffle or are partial to the sweet bitterness of a high cocoa percentage, we bring you our list of the best vegan chocolate brands

December 31, 2019 at 3:19 pm

Looking for the best vegan chocolate? Check out our favourites below and treat yourself or your favourite plant-based foodie to a vegan hamper.

What is vegan chocolate made of?

All chocolate shares the same key ingredient; cocoa. Whether it’s in solid, butter or powder form, cocoa starts its life as a plant and is therefore vegan in origin. The ingredients added later to create chocolate as we know it, for sweetness, taste and texture are what often contain dairy.

Plant-based alternatives such as creamed coconut and hazelnut paste are being increasingly used in place of whey fat to deliver that indulgently smooth and rich chocolate experience. But the label ‘vegan friendly’ can often come at the expense of chocolate’s traditional taste and texture. Well, you’ll be happy to know this is no longer the case!

Is dark chocolate vegan?

The higher the quality of chocolate, the less added ingredients there are. Dark chocolate has a much higher cocoa percentage than milk chocolate but not all dark chocolate is vegan.

So who makes the best vegan chocolate? We tested a range of brands to bring you our favourite vegan dark, milk and truffle chocolate.

Best vegan chocolate to buy

Best vegan truffles: Booja Booja Hazelnut Truffles, £9.23, 104g, Amazon

Comments: If you’re into sweet chocolate truffles these cocoa dusted organic Booja Booja bites combine the smooth texture of classic ganache with small chunks of roasted hazelnut for added bite; a great gift for someone with a sweet tooth.

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A black box with gold foil writing on the front and an image of chocolate truffles

Best vegan milk chocolate: Galaxy Vegan Caramelised Hazelnut Chocolate, £3, 100g, Ocado

Comments: Galaxy launched its first ever range of vegan chocolate bars in November 2019 and has succeeded in recreating its classically smooth milk taste using hazelnut paste in place of dairy. This caramelised hazelnut edition combines small pieces of caramel for crunch with silky milk chocolate. You wouldn’t know it was vegan.

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A bar of chocolate with red and white packaging and gold writing

Best vegan dark chocolate:

1. Divine Fairtrade 70% Dark Chocolate, £2.20, 90g, Waitrose

Comments: Fruity with a complex finish and smooth mouthfeel, this bar delivers in flavour without any of the bitterness you often get with a high cocoa percentage. Buy this for a rich and balanced dark vegan chocolate experience.

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A bar of dark chocolate in black packaging with gold foil shapes on the front

2. Hotel Chocolat 70% Dark Chocolate Slab, £3.95, 100g, Ocado

Comment: This 70% cocoa slab by Hotel Chocolat came a close second to Divine in depth of flavour and melt. It’s a pricier option and slightly harder in bite but worth the money for dark aficionados.

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