Making indulgence healthy: A look at India’s top 5 vegan chocolate brands on World Chocolate Day

On the occasion of World Chocolate Day 2023, we bring you a curated list of the top five brands that offer a wide variety of chocolate bars and bites for vegan chocoholics across the country. Have a look:

1. Ambriona

The story: Ambriona is an innovative vegan dark chocolate brand that has revolutionised the chocolate industry in India. They operate as twin brands - Ambriona & Daarzel. Their range of artisanal chocolate bars caters to the diverse dietary preferences of chocolate enthusiasts in the country. Daarzel was launched to introduce the Indian masses with the true brilliance of chocolate as Shahzad Anklesaria (Founder of Ambriona) found that most people associate chocolate with a sweet taste. Daarzel’s 45% Roasted Hazelnut with Mild Dark Chocolate is meant to bring people to the ‘dark’ side; meaning, to familiarise them with deeper tones of the indulgent cacao beans. 

Daarzel’s bean-to-bar premium vegan chocolates are meticulously crafted using sustainably sourced, organic cacao beans, and processed in a single factory in Madhya Pradesh. Their careful selection ensures a flavour profile that can be enjoyed by vegans and non-vegans alike. In fact, they have recently launched 6 exciting flavours of ‘milk’ chocolate, but without using dairy. They are - Strawberry Cheesecake, Blueberry Cheesecake, Nutty Bar, Cookies & Cream, Creamy Matcha and Fruit & Nut bar. These flavours are also suited for individuals who prefer a gluten free diet or are allergic to gluten.

Must-try from Ambriona: The Strawberry Cheesecake is the best seller, closely followed by the Nutty Bar which contains quinoa, making it rich in fibre and protein, and deliciously crunchy. Ambriona’s inclusive approach to crafting chocolates can be seen in their offerings for keto-friendly variants, diabetes-friendly sugar free variants, and kid-friendly variants which have more nuts and less added sugars.

What’s special about Ambriona: Their commitment to quality and making indulgence healthy is reflected in their use of 100% natural ingredients, ensuring the chocolate bars maintain consistent flavour and texture. 

How to get your hands on them: Ambriona & Daarzel is available on Amazon or can be ordered online at www.ambriona.com. 

2. Paul and Mike

The story: Paul and Mike, named after two Latin American fine cocoa growers, redefine just how fantastic tasting chocolate can be. They deem growing and fermenting cocoa both an art and a science. Their chocolate production facility is based in Kochi, Kerala.

Must try from Paul and Mike: While they have a wide range of products, you simply must try their 57% Vegan Milk Chocolate with Indian Style Masala Chai, the 99% Vegan Dark Chocolate, and 72% Dark Roasted Almonds & Himalayan Pink Salt Vegan Chocolate. Coming as a delightful treat for patrons, their chocolates taste smooth and delicious. They succeed in calming your body and also satiating your love for dark chocolates.

What makes Paul and Mike special: These chocolatiers produce cocoa on their own plantations source wet cocoa beans from innovative farmers in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh and manage the full post-harvest process. It helps them maximize quality control.

How to get your hands on them: Paul and Mike facilitate pan India shipments and patrons can place their orders on the brand’s website.

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3. Mason & Co.

The story: Mason & Co was started by a lawyer and a sound-engineer who love the art and science of making and eating chocolate. As a vegan, Jane Mason has trained as a Chocolate Maker and a Raw Food Chef, while Fabien Bontems has lived in India for most of his life, but being French, food and fine chocolate are in his genes. Together, they produce all vegan, organic and superior quality chocolate. The duo takes great pride in producing an all vegan, conscious product that makes people happy.

Must try from Mason & Co.: People particularly adore their 75% Zesty Orange Dark Chocolate Bar, the 75% Bittersweet Dark Chocolate Bar and the 75% Peppermint & Sweet Nibs Dark Chocolate Bar. When you taste a bar of Mason and Co. you realize what pure, unadulterated chocolate is supposed to taste like. It often makes people reevaluate their choices and swear by vegan chocolate.

What makes Mason & Co. special: Their vegan chocolate is made with beans from South India, particularly grown on farms in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. With eco-friendly and simple packaging, this vegan and homegrown brand sells products that are exceptional in quality, aside from the tantalizing flavor.

How to get your hands on them: Their products can be purchased on their website as well as in several stores in Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Gujarat, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Gurugaon, Dehradun, Rishikesh, Kolkata, Noida, and Chandigarh.

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4. Bean To Bark

The story: At Pink Harvest Farms, they are taking every safety precaution to ensure food is handled and packaged keeping in mind the strictest hygiene measures. With Bean To Bark, they sought to introduce chocolate for snacking with the finest ingredients combined together.

Must try from Bean to Bark: You can satiate your sweet tooth by indulging in the Bean To Bark - Dark Chocolate Sugar Free Almond Crunch and Bean To Bark - Dark Chocolate Almond Crunch. The smoothness of nuts along with refreshing cocoa flavor shall boost your mood instantly.

What makes Bean to Bark special: Bean To Bark chocolates are exquisitely made for snacking in two versions either nuts, berries coated with chocolate or crunchy nut, seed chocolate to entice customers’ tastebuds. 

How to get your hands on them: They facilitate pan India shipments and patrons can place their orders on the brand’s website.

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5. OneGood

The story: Abhay Rangan founded OneGood as a mission to create the next big dairy company — minus the animals. His team believes in a future where people will no longer view animals as food or commodities. Instead, they will be viewed as living, breathing individuals who deserve to live their lives free from suffering and exploitation. In the chocolate segment, they offer vegan protein, chocolate mylk and chocolate bars.

Must try from OneGood: Everyone knows how tempting chocolate can be, which is why a 100% guilt-free option is necessary. OneGood’s Sea Salt and California Almonds, Hazelnut, and Country Crunch and Butterscotch Vegan chocolates are to die for. Their fine taste is smooth on the palate and the infusion of flavors hits the right note!

What makes OneGood special: Their chocolate bars don't taste much different than dairy ones, but they're better because they're 100% lactose-free, cholesterol-free, lower in sugar, lower in calories, and lower in fat.

How to get your hands on them: Their products can be purchased on their website as well as in several stores in Mumbai, Pune, Guwahati, Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Gurugaon, Hyderabad, Panchkula, and Aurangabad.

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