Vegan chocolate help!

[reinan3]

Does anyone know of any reasonably available vegan chocolate? There aren't really many specialty stores in my area and I'd prefer not to order online, I'm just wondering if anyone knows of any vegan chocolate that a general supermarket may carry??

[LovelyPerv]

My Kroger's has a few kinds...but there's not much of a selection.

Watch the vegan food sites for occasional free-shipping specials, as their item price is pretty much the same as you'd find in a store.

I think that a few other grocery stores, like Publix, Kroger's, or whatever you have in your area, may have special 'health food' sections where they may stock snack-type foods... That's where you'd find vegan chocolate if they carry it.

You can also ask a manager... It'll tell them there's a demand for those products as well.

Smaller grocery stores may be able to do special ordering for you, too.

Also, remember that something doesn't have to have a special 'vegan stamp' on it to be vegan. Just read the ingredients on regular dark chocolate bars (note: Hershey's puts dairy in their dark bars), and on 'baker's chocolate.' <---you may be able to make your own chocolate treats!!!

[starling]

I have a nearby CVS drugstore and they carry a few brands that have vegan chocolate bars. Lindt and Ghirardelli come to mind. Like LovelyPerv said, just read the ingredients!

[karenlovessnow]

If you're really desperate, you can check the generic brands of semi sweet chocolate chips...my shop rite brand is vegan. Nestle's is not, however.

[Earthly Delight]

If you're really desperate, you can check the generic brands of semi sweet chocolate chips...my shop rite brand is vegan. Nestle's is not, however.


*nodnod* certain production dates chipits are vegan, others are not. Hershey's is never vegan (unless its bakers chocolate, then it might be but boy is that bitter). Cadbury dark you should check the label, as it might be.

Organic dark chocolates (which are ethical both in the fact they're vegan, in the fact they don't ruin the environment as much, and in the fact they're often fair trade) include (but are not limited to) Dagoba (http://www.dagobachocolate.com/), Green & Blacks (http://www.greenandblacksdirect.com/?gclid=CNvP382j-5ICFQmQGgod3hIuFQ), Cocoa Camino (http://www.cocoacamino.com/en/index.php), Endangered Species (http://www.chocolatebar.com/).

Good luck on your search, and like others said, don't forget to check out higher quality chocolates like lindt and ghiradelli--generally if its high quality it doesn't include yucky pollutants like modified milk ingredients. This is, of course, assuming its not milk chocolate, lol.

[sleepydvdr]

Green & Blacks can be found at many grocery stores (Harris Teeter for sure). A 3.5oz bar (fairly large) costs about $3.99.

[Abbey]

Whereabouts to do you live? In Canada, President's Choice semi-sweet chocolate chips are vegan. Also, Lindt 70% cocoa chocolate bars are vegan and available in most mainstream supermarkets in Canada/US. I've also seen brands like Tropical Source (my favourite!), Terra Nostra, Green&Blacks and Endangered Species chocolate bars in some mainstream supermarkets, but these are mostly limited to health food stores.

If you have any chocolate shops in your area (Godiva, Purdy's, etc.) they almost always have dairy-free dark chocolate. It's much more expensive, but so good!

[Earthly Delight]

I bought a 70% dark chocolate Green & Blacks (it was $1.99!!) only to find it had milk ingredients though. My mom was happy, she got an entire chocolate bar for free. *mumbles* So yeah--no matter what brand make sure you read the packaging. (On the site the 70% is vegan... too bad my particular bar isn't.. :( )

[megbot]

I read the label first always, but I find most dark chocolate is safe. Never had trouble finding chocolate really. I forget, but I believe Dove dark is vegan... you'd have to double check though. It's readily available at local stores

[Abbey]

I forget, but I believe Dove dark is vegan... you'd have to double check though. It's readily available at local stores

You mean the small chocolate squares that come in "milk", "dusk" and "dark" varieties? I just saw those yesterday for the first time, and I checked the ingredients of the dark, and it had milk ingredients :| . So unnecessary!

[bekajoi]

The new Dove dark with almonds is NOT. It has milkfat, lactose, AND skim milk in it. And it looked so promising. /sob.

Store brand chocolate chips (semisweet or dark) often are vegan by accident. Oreos are, usually. And in the worst case, make some vegan brownies! :)

AMAZING Vegan Brownies

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

2 cups flour (I used whole wheat pastry flour)
1 cup water (I think this subs for 3-4 large/med eggs, respectively)
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1/2 cup oil - preferably vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips (optional)~ (I used an off-brand semisweet chocolate chip that happened to be vegan by accident)

Directions:

Mix dry ingredients (flour, sugar, salt, cocoa, baking powder)
Mix wet ingredients (water, oil, vanilla)
Mix together, 50 strokes, or until well blended. Fold in nuts and chocolate chips.

Spread mixture into a greased 13x9" pan. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes, or until a knife can be inserted and come out clean.

[reinan3]

Wow, thanks to all! I have definitely seen some of those brands at Target so I'll make a trip! That's a load off:)

I really appreciate all the help!

I have really enjoyed the whole forum so much, everyone is so helpful and friendly with one another!

[megbot]

I swore dove dark was once upon a time. Blast.

Good thing I found Dagoba heh :)

[eri02]

is endangered species fair trade?

[Earthly Delight]

You know, I even linked their site in the thread--clicking and reading for yourself wouldn't kill you.

COMPANY - OUR STORY

REVERENCE FOR LIFE
Here, our core value is Reverence for Life, which is modeled after renowned humanitarian Albert Schweitzer’s ethic of the same name. We believe all life is precious and deserving of our respect, kindness and care, and this Reverence for Life ethic is at the heart of each our business practices.

ETHICAL TRADE
Our cocoa is 100% ethically traded. Philosophically, ethical trade and fair trade are one in the very same. Up and through summer 2006, our organic chocolate products have been Fair Trade Certified™ through Trans Fair and our organic cocoa has been sourced at Conacado Co-op in the Dominican Republic. Effective summer of 2006, Endangered Species Chocolate will dedicate the dollars previously earmarked for Trans Fair certification to directly support the farmers in the Conacado Co-op, where we will continue to source our cocoa. Our sourcing program will continue to ensure the cocoa farmers in the Conacado Co-op a fair wage.

MORE THAN JUST A LIST
Our exquisite chocolate and colorful wrappers serve not only to increase awareness of species currently listed as threatened or endangered on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s Endangered Species List, but to inspire proactive conservation for animals confronting universal struggles such as habitat encroachment, poaching, and pollution. Our products aim to honor all flora and fauna that share this planet. All are invaluable…and sadly, all are vulnerable. Join us in taking care of one another and our Earth. It’s time.

STORY
Endangered Species Chocolate (ESC) was founded in 1993 in effort to spread awareness and to make an impact on the growing number of plant and animal species that are disappearing from Earth. Since then the mission has grown to embrace a new definition of “endangered” - that all species, habitat and humanity are endangered on our planet, not just animals on a list. 10 percent of the company’s net profits are donated to help support species, habitat and humanity.

To keep up with growing demand for premium chocolate with a cause, and to take advantage of a centralized Midwest location to reduce shipping costs and time, in 2005 ESC moved from its original 5,000-square-foot facility in Oregon to Indiana. The newly renovated, fully automated Indianapolis facility provides 43,000 square feet and is expandable to 77,000 square feet. In keeping with the company’s commitment to protect species and our environment, the building is LEED® registered and meets all the requirements of LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Rating Council.

ESC confirms that all of our chocolate is created from ethically traded, shade grown cacao grown on small family-owned properties that support the habitats and communities in which they exist. In February 2006, four ESC team members traveled to the Ikom region of Nigeria where all of our all-natural cacao is harvested. While observing ethical trade in action, ESC sponsored the provision of school supplies for children and the installation of water pumps for two local villages. In 2007, ESC is working with Saro Agro Science to provide six scholarships to the top students in the Ikom region. The money will be used to purchase school books, supplies and uniforms.

ESC’s organic cacao is sourced from Dominican Republic to create seven varieties of organic milk and dark chocolate bars in addition to bite-sized treats. The company is planning a trip to visit cacao farmers in Dominican Republic in 07/08. Fair prices are paid for all harvested products used in making Endangered Species Chocolate’s all-natural and organic chocolate products and a fair wage and humane working conditions are ensured for all workers.

Today, more than 30 ESC products are available to customers who crave premium, all-natural chocolate – and who share our commitment to protect Earth. Many bars are identified with an at-risk species and include information about the plight of these animals. Our 3-ounce all-natural bars, 1.4-ounce premium organic bars, .35-ounce bite-size treats, gift boxes and baking chocolates offer a variety of indulgent flavors. Endangered Species Chocolate consistently ranks as the number one selling brand of chocolate in natural supermarkets, according to SPINS, the leading provider of information in the natural products industry.

http://www.chocolatebar.com/story.asp

[Mr. Sun]

You know, I even linked their site in the thread--clicking and reading for yourself wouldn't kill you.
oh, good sarcasm :)

Thanks for linking that -- I never knew that Endangered Species chocolate was fair trade. Good to know.

[Tofu-N-Sprouts]

Clicking on a link once connected me to a site with some wonky adware crap that killed my comuter though. :D

Back on topic... Guittard Semi-Sweet chocolate chips (sold at Safeway and other groceries) are vegan and the most delicious chocolate ANYWHERE, I swear!! (Guittard... not to be confused with Ghirardelli's which is crap choclate anyway and not vegan as far as I know)

[SonicEarth]

I really like the Endangered Species 88% dark chocolate.

[Waikikamukau]

oh, good sarcasm :)

She said clicking and reading it wouldn't kill someone, that is literally true and not sarcastic... insulting, maybe, not sarcastic :p

[Waikikamukau]

Clicking on a link once connected me to a site with some wonky adware crap that killed my comuter though. :D

Pretty much any anti-virus software would block that.

[Tofu-N-Sprouts]

Pretty much any anti-virus software would block that.

I was merely interjecting some humor. :dizzy:

[Waikikamukau]

I was merely interjecting some humor. :dizzy:

Oh, I see. Humor isn't one of my strengths, sorry.

[Earthly Delight]

She said clicking and reading it wouldn't kill someone, that is literally true and not sarcastic... insulting, maybe, not sarcastic :p


I agree. I don't really like using sarcasm.. it's bitter and cold. I do "frustrated and dissapointed" a lot better, you know?

Copied from my response to a PM about this very incident: "you know, eating your broccoli won't kill you" "you know, giving me a goodnight hug wont kill you" etc. Tends to be the sort of thing you'd say between friends, pointing out a flaw that doesn't really bug you--but you'd like to make it known.

I wanted to point out that I'd included the link, but I wasn't saying "oh good job einstein. Aren't you hard working?" That, my friends, is sarcasm.

edit: *sigh* and this post was upset simply because it's never fun getting a PM in your inbox that is dripping with cold sarcasm about what a horrid person you are and how you revel in the pain and suffering of others. Or something. Honestly--I didn't mean to insult or be rude, yes I was a bit dissapointed that after going through the trouble of hyperlinking the site a question that could have been answered by easily clicking it could have been asked. You know, hyperlinking that included googling the site, copying, telling my computer to allow popups, hightlighting the word I wanted to link, pasting it, and so forth. Sure, its like 3 min of my time so I did it--but having it ignored isn't fun. Either way, instead of just saying follow my link I went, did it all over again, and this time even copied and pasted the entire page and bolded the relevant sections to answer the question in the fullest. And then I got criticized for the effort. I am really sorry if my eagerness to answer every question asked to the best of my capabilities is interpreted as rudeness, pomp, or anything else negative. All I can say is I am pretty sure at least some people benefit from it, so I guess its not all going to waste.

[Mr. Sun]

I agree. I don't really like using sarcasm.. it's bitter and cold. I do "frustrated and dissapointed" a lot better, you know?

Copied from my response to a PM about this very incident: "you know, eating your broccoli won't kill you" "you know, giving me a goodnight hug wont kill you" etc. Tends to be the sort of thing you'd say between friends, pointing out a flaw that doesn't really bug you--but you'd like to make it known.

I wanted to point out that I'd included the link, but I wasn't saying "oh good job einstein. Aren't you hard working?" That, my friends, is sarcasm.

edit: *sigh* and this post was upset simply because it's never fun getting a PM in your inbox that is dripping with cold sarcasm about what a horrid person you are and how you revel in the pain and suffering of others. Or something. Honestly--I didn't mean to insult or be rude, yes I was a bit dissapointed that after going through the trouble of hyperlinking the site a question that could have been answered by easily clicking it could have been asked. You know, hyperlinking that included googling the site, copying, telling my computer to allow popups, hightlighting the word I wanted to link, pasting it, and so forth. Sure, its like 3 min of my time so I did it--but having it ignored isn't fun. Either way, instead of just saying follow my link I went, did it all over again, and this time even copied and pasted the entire page and bolded the relevant sections to answer the question in the fullest. And then I got criticized for the effort. I am really sorry if my eagerness to answer every question asked to the best of my capabilities is interpreted as rudeness, pomp, or anything else negative. All I can say is I am pretty sure at least some people benefit from it, so I guess its not all going to waste.

I'm not sure I get what you're saying. Are you saying that someone sent you a nasty PM because you wrote "it wouldn't kill you to look at the link I provided" (paraphrase)?

I thought it was all in good humor. If you had told me that I would've just laughed and maybe tried to come up with a good zinger of my own.

Anyway, I appreciated the work you did because I never knew that Endangered Species was fair-trade. I thought they were using the endangered species angle to hook in the ethical people who wanted chocolate and were in competition with the fair-traders.

Good work, Earthly Delight! :up:

[Waikikamukau]

edit: *sigh* and this post was upset simply because it's never fun getting a PM in your inbox that is dripping with cold sarcasm about what a horrid person you are and how you revel in the pain and suffering of others.

I'm sorry; I'd had a bit too much cologne to drink and I was feeling bitter. I didn't mean to say those awful things about you. And I certainly didn't mean to compare to you Mr. Sun! Please forgive me for my rudeness. I'll never drink anything by Calvin Klein again.