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Chocolate serves so many roles: a comfort food, a self-care moment, a perfect dessert, a symbol of love and affection. It satisfies a sweet tooth in that particular way that only chocolate can. And it’s fun to elevate those occasions with bars that really have it going on. Enter: these hand-picked vegan chocolates bars.
This collection of vegan chocolate bars focuses on thoughtful makers whose processes from bean to bar are marked by exceptional ethics, ingredients, and techniques. The results are delicious, handcrafted little masterpieces, ideal for gifting or pampering oneself.
Fully vegan brands are marked with a (V).
Rawmio (V)
Rawmio is all about dense nutrition and flavor with their raw, organic chocolate that’s made using a low-temp stone grinding technique. It renders a dreamy texture while preserving nutrients, and also allows for the subtle flavors of the cacao to come through. The base of all of Rawmio’s vegan chocolate bars is single-origin, fair-trade cacao from Peru and raw cocoa butter. They add a couple other simple organic ingredients and do it all up in those gorgeous, metallic-accented wrappers.
The flavors: Dark Chocolate (70% Cacao, 85% Cacao, 100% Cacao), Mint (70% Cacao), Orange (70% Cacao), KETO (72% Cacao), Oatmilk Chocolate with Vanilla Bean (50% Cacao), Dark Chocolate with Vanilla Bean (70% Cacao), White Chocolate (40% Cacao)
Raaka (V)
Raaka’s organic, transparently traded chocolate is made using unroasted cacao beans to preserve the natural, slightly fruity flavor of the cacao. Here’s their best-selling bar description (Bourbon Cask Aged, aka the “Tuxedoed Sophisticate”): “We age single origin Tanzanian cacao in bourbon casks for two months, creating a deeply nuanced bar with a cocktail-like vibe: oaky and smooth, with a hint of cherry cordial on the finish.” Yes please.
The flavors: Oat Milk, Coconut Milk, Maple & Nibs, Green Tea Crunch, Bourbon Cask Aged, Bananas Foster, Pink Sea Salt, Pure Cacao & Strawberry & Coconut, 100% Cacao. Also various limited edition flavors – check their site for availability.
Mast
Mast’s picture-perfect chocolate bars are organic and handcrafted in small batches using simple ingredients. They’re made from ethically and sustainably sourced cocoa beans from Tanzania, for which Mast pays much higher than fair trade premiums. Not all of their chocolates are vegan, but I loved this product description for their vegan Oat Milk bar, “You have chosen wisely. Organic oats, a drizzle of maple, creamy chocolate, and zero dairy. Your tongue, tummy, friends, family and planet will thank you.”
The flavors: 80% Cacao, Sea Salt, Oat Milk, Olive Oil, Almond Butter, Raspberry, Mint, Lavender, Tea, Hazelnut.
Goodio (V)
Goodio’s chocolates are organic, bean-to-bar, transparently traded (directly sourced from farmers) and handmade in Finland. Their ingredients are as clean and lovely as they come, and their packaging is so beautiful that at one point I had it pinned up on my office wall because it seems to be as much art as anything else.
The flavors: Too many to list, but among the most unique and spectacular-sounding are Wild Blueberry, Ginger Bread, Caramelized Coconut, Candied Chamomile, Peppermint Crunch, Apple Pie, and Minty Cookie Dough.
Endangered Species
Endangered Species’ vegan chocolate bars are Fairtrade, certified gluten-free, palm oil-free, and although they have various non-vegan varieties, they’ve got plenty of vegan options (as seen above). These ones are quite widely-available in stores, which is nice. Endangered Species has donated over $3M since 2016 to organizations that protect species, habitats, and humanity.
The flavors: Raspberry Filling, Orange, Extreme Dark, Almonds & Sea Salt, Smooth, Forest Mint, Espresso Beans, Raspberries, Blueberry, Cherries, Cranberries & Almonds, Cacao Nibs, Salted Peanuts, Cinnamon Cayenne & Cherries, Coconut & Almonds, Rice Crisps, Sea Salt & Almonds, Mixed Berries, Sea Salt, Oatmilk, Peppermint Crunch
What do you think?