A vegan guide to chocolate

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Chocolate is one of the most craved foods in the world. Not only is chocolate considered to be delectable by many, it is high in flavonoids, which have antioxidant qualities. But is it vegan?

All chocolate is extracted from cacao beans, but not all chocolate sold in its final form is vegan. The best way to make sure is to scan the ingredients.

Good quality dark chocolate does not use dairy products and therefor is usually vegan, but you should still double check the ingredients. Look for a high percentage of cacao, between 55 and 85 percentâ€”the higher the percentage, the purer the bar.

Plant-based ingredients include:

Cocoa , the roasted cacao, ground into a powder from which most of the fat has been removed.

, the roasted cacao, ground into a powder from which most of the fat has been removed. Cocoa butter, also called theobroma oil, named after the "Broma" process used to extract the pale-yellow, edible vegetable fat extracted from the cocoa bean.

Lesser quality, more processed and milk chocolate requires closer examination.

While milk chocolate by definition, implies some dairy is included, here are some non-vegan ingredients to watch out for:

Whey , which the watery part of milk that remains after the formation of curds.

, which the watery part of milk that remains after the formation of curds. Casein , the main protein present in milk and (in coagulated form) in cheese. It is used in processed foods and in adhesives, paints, and other industrial products.

, the main protein present in milk and (in coagulated form) in cheese. It is used in processed foods and in adhesives, paints, and other industrial products. Milk , an opaque white fluid rich in fat and protein, secreted by female mammals for the nourishment of their young: a healthy mother will produce enough milk for her baby.

, an opaque white fluid rich in fat and protein, secreted by female mammals for the nourishment of their young: a healthy mother will produce enough milk for her baby. Milk fat or butterfat , is the fatty portion of milk. Milk and cream are often sold according to the amount of butterfat they contain.

, is the fatty portion of milk. Milk and cream are often sold according to the amount of butterfat they contain. Milk solids, is the dried powder left after all the water is removed from liquid milk. The are small, dairy-derived food particles that contain lactose, caseins, whey proteins.

White chocolate, contains no cocoa at all, just milk and sugar.

Truffles, usually contains a ganache, or a filling of chocolate and cream, so even if dark chocolate is used on the coating, the filling almost always contains dairy.

Chocolate is definitely a treat that vegans can enjoy, but it is critical to always check the ingredients.

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