For some, chocolate is one of life’s greatest gifts. If you’re looking for a sweet treat that’s dairy-free, there’s an amazing variety of vegan chocolate brands at the supermarket and online! And as far as taste goes, you can’t even tell the difference between a vegan chocolate versus a traditional chocolate with dairy. So, we at Study Finds went on a search for the best vegan chocolate you can buy.
Here’s why: Chocolate is the most popular sweet treat around the world! But unfortunately lactose intolerance is also popular. One of the most common food sensitivities is lactose intolerance. In fact, approximately 65 percent of the human population has a reduced ability to digest lactose after infancy. Despite digestive issues, 80 percent of Americans willingly eat foods they know will upset their stomachs because they like the food too much.
Thankfully, if you love chocolate but you’re lactose intolerant or growing more health-conscious, you’re not alone. In a survey of 2,000 U.S. residents, 41 percent have switched up their daily menus due to shifts in their health and dietary needs. Another study also found switching to a vegan diet correlated with chronic migraine relief within three months. You can learn more about how a vegan diet impacts health here.
So, if you want the benefits of eating dairy-free without sacrificing your affection for chocolate confections, the good news is: you can have it all! Read on to discover some of the best vegan chocolate available, as recommended by 11 cacao experts. We hope you find something you and your taste buds will adore in this 2023 guide to vegan chocolate.
The List: Best Vegan Chocolate Brands, According To Foodies
1. Hu
Hu even took the top spot on another list of best chocolates, which considered both dairy and vegan options.
Well+Good recommends this brand as a crowd pleaser: “Hu has an entire selection of vegan goods, snacks, and treats, but the vegan dark chocolate is a perennial crowd pleaser. Not only are these rich chocolates dairy-free, but they’re also gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and soy lecithin-free (which is often found in other vegan bars). Be sure to check out the hazelnut butter variety, which tastes so rich and creamy.”
Delish thinks Hu has some delicious features and flavors, writing, “Hu’s assortment of vegan chocolates — all of which also happen to be gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and completely void of soy lecithin. Lots of their flavors include nuts, but there’s a minty one and a bar with bananas, too.”
Eluxe Magazine raves about the brand: “Vegan, organic, paleo, and soy free. What more do you want in a choccie!? Hu is definitely [one] of the best vegan chocolate brands. This isn’t just chocolate without the guilt; it’s chocolate with a unique flavour!”
2. Endangered Species Chocolate
Vegancuts loves that this brand gives you great chocolate, while giving endangered species support: “Looking for a tasty chocolate bar that’s better for you and wildlife? Endangered Species Chocolate gives a portion of each bar sold to supporting … you guessed it, endangered species.”
The Spruce Eats recommends the Oat Milk + Dark Chocolate flavor as the best, saying, “If creamy dark chocolate is your jam, this bar was made for you. Having an oat base provides a smoother composition than some other non-dairy chocolates. The result pays off in a more cohesive balance between taste and texture. Another popular attribute of the Endangered Species brand is that 10 percent of the company’s net profits are donated to conservation and wildlife organizations.”
3. Compartés
According to Thrillist, “Los Angeles-based Compartés creates vegan bars that are made with Peruvian cacao and are free of refined sugar, dairy, and soy. Fruit and chocolate is arguably the best combination, so opt for the ‘superfood’ organic 75% cacao bar with goji berries, strawberries, açaí, and dragonfruit or the super crunchy dark chocolate blueberry almond bar.”
VegNews talks up the design and the flavors, saying, “It’s not just our sweet tooth that lures us into the Compartés display — it’s the gorgeous artistic packaging. Reach for a Compartés bar if you’re in the mood for something a bit wacky, as the vegan flavors range from California Love Pretzel to Old Hollywood Smoked Sea Salt. The flaked coconut-studded Tropical Paradise and pink-dusted Matcha Raspberry Reishi are stunners as well.”
4. UnReal
It’s almost unreal how good this brand is. The Green Loot says, “UnReal makes vegan chocolate candy bars similar to popular candy bars found in the U.S., but without ‘the bad stuff.’ Their peanut butter cups taste even better than a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, and they boast 3 types of candy-coated chocolates similar to M&Ms.”
ChooseVeg also recommends their sweet treats, writing, “Nearly all of UnReal’s treats are vegan. Snackers can shop for yummy products like dark chocolate peanut butter cups, covered peanuts, and coconut bars.”
5. Taza
GreenChoice not only recommends this brand, but a specific flavor: “Taza Chocolates Organic Toasted Coconut & Wicked Dark Chocolate Bar has a very high nutritional value, has little to no processing, and is estimated to have a very low carbon footprint and a moderate water footprint.”
And according to VegOut, “Taza’s stone-ground chocolate is crafted using traditional Mexican stone mills that ensure minimal processing and make for a delicious bold treat. Taza is pioneering the industry in Direct Trade Certified cacao. Their lineup includes a variety of almond ‘milk’ chocolate bars, chocolate-covered treats, and more. All Taza chocolates are 100% vegan and organic.”
Have you tried any vegan chocolate that you’d recommend? Let us know in the comments!
Sources
- Well+Good
- Delish
- Eluxe Magazine
- Vegancuts
- The Spruce Eats
- Thrillist
- VegNews
- The Green Loot
- ChooseVeg
- GreenChoice
- VegOut
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. Study Finds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links.