So is cocoa powder vegan? Cocoa powder is made by processing cacao beans under high heat, and is typically used for baking. The cocoa powder is harvested and processed with forced child labor, and the working conditions are horrible[1]. Cocoa powder occurs when the fat, called cocoa butter, gets removed from the cacao beans during processing.The leftover dried solids get ground into the product sold as cocoa powder. The pure one that contains nothing other than cocoa powder is vegan. 1 review for Cadbury Fair Trade Bournville Cocoa 250G. 2. If you’re buying cocoa powder by itself, it’s really easy to see if there are any other ingredients besides the cacao itself. It only has a small amount of milk powder, while the others have larger amounts and other non-vegan ingredients. We’re a news, analysis, and opinion platform for everything related to the vegan diet and vegan fitness. Finally, most brands that care about sourcing ethical chocolate really like to highlight it on their website and go into detail on how they source cocoa responsibly. Most organic cocoa comes from Latin America. So fair trade or slavery free labels, which typically go together, are safe to assume are vegan. Monthly newsletter with new vegan ⦠So, in short, both cocoa butter and cocoa powder are entirely vegan. But worst thing of all is when cocoa is unethically and unsustainably sourced, which we'll look at in more detail now. Accidents are depressingly common. 3. 4. Some cocoa powder does have non-vegan ingredients. Here we have come to the part that is truly even more interesting than the fact that the cocoa butter is vegan, which it is â it is truly incredibly valuable for your health. However, some cocoa products do have milk included. For many vegans, you wouldn’t consider cocoa powder that comes from these places to be vegan, as there’s a lot of suffering. Let's take a closer look at vegan cocoa powder and what you should look out for. The vegan version of this classic instant hot cocoa mix is perfect with mini vegan marshmallows. Usually dairy products like milk powder. That is why cocoa powder is vegan. The fact is that sugar is another problematic ingredient that shouldn't necessarily be considered vegan. Although some chocolate products have milk, eggs, and other animal products. Cocoa powder is usually considered vegan by most. Starbucks Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa The Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa mix comes in single packets and also in a tin. If it is pure cocoa powder, the answer is âyesâ. With this level of cruelty and misery at the heart of it, you can see why many find simply labeling cocoa powder as vegan problematic. It retains some of its health benefits when consumed in moderation and is typically cheaper and more easily sourced. Cocoa powder, in its pure form, is vegan. It's this fat which is directly responsible for the melt-in-your-mouth quality of chocolate, which is essentially cocoa butter that has been recombined with cocoa solids like cocoa powder . Add a small amount of cold plant milk and mix to a smooth paste. This, for most vegans, is a small price to pay. This quick and easy Vegan Hot Chocolate Mix is made with just 3 simple ingredients â powdered soy milk, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder- for the perfect gift for the holiday season. Even if they manage to avoid harm from the job itself, they are often beaten if they don't complete tasks quickly enough. But those who buy pure cocoa powder won't have any trouble with unwanted dairy - they don't call it pure for nothing! I've been vegan for years and try to make life easier for others by sharing what I've learned. Any ingredient that is derived from animals is a strict NO for the vegan community. If you just see “cocoa powder” on the ingredients list, there’s a chance that it came from workers in these conditions. Vegan Liftz is a community-supported website. Whether you're making a hot chocolate or want to make your baking a little more decadent, finding a good vegan cocoa powder is one of the most important concessions for those making the switch to a cruelty-free life. 5. ⦠Because natural cocoa powder has not had its acidity tempered it is used in recipes calling for baking soda which will then cause a reaction in ⦠The ingredients are cocoa powder and sodium carbonate, which are vegan. Still, they are usually discovered fairly quickly based on the reports and research I've looked into. It is totally a plant-based product. It does not even contain any sugar in it. A lot of processed sugar is given its pure white hue by using bone char. Are There Any Reasons Why Cocoa Might Not Be Vegan? Let's look a little closer at what each label means in detail. Specifically, itâs the seeds of the fruit originating from the theobroma tree. You cannot have bone char without dead animals, and so for most vegans, sugar is on the no-no list. While they might not be foolproof, any sneaky attempts to bypass their minimum requirements are usually found. So while the end product might not have actual traces of animal products in it, they are certainly used in its production. The good news is, cocoa butter and cocoa powder is not an animal-derived ingredient. Some suppliers (from Western Africa) have tried to find a way to sell their cocoa (made from child labor or slavery) to fair trade buyers in the past, but it hasn’t been too successful as far as I can tell (based on the reports I’ve read). It mainly occurs in West Africa, at least that’s where most documented cases of child slavery on cocoa farms come from at the moment. Usually dairy products like milk powder. While we typically think of vegan about eliminating animal cruelty, we often forget that humans are animals as well. Five ingredients to make the chocolate, then you are free to experiment with toppings. You can be quite confident that these were made ethically. Cocoa butter is a natural product derived from dried seeds, which grow in pods, on a cocoa tree (Theobroma Cacao). Next up is the cocoa powder with “fair trade” or “slavery free” on the label. So, organic cocoa is pretty safe to consider vegan. If possible, cacao powder is a more natural and organic form, and the cacao beans provide a little more nutrition for your baking needs. Pure dark chocolate powder products have no animal products at all, making them safe for all vegans. There is absolutely no doubt about it. This means cocoa butter is vegan when used in its natural form. That paste is dried well and processed as cocoa powder. As long as no gelatin or milk or other dairy and animal products are used with that cocoa powder to make chocolate or dessert, then it is still okay to eat. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated site. Cocoa powder is made by processing cacao beans under high heat, and is typically used for baking. If you’re not sure about a brand, look it up and see if you can find anything to re-assure you (or do the opposite). The fair-trade and slavery-free labels also have some fairly strict guidelines on what a cocoa producer has to do to earn those pretty little badges on their labeling. Welcome to Vegan Liftz. Most of these are legitimate, and aren’t made from products of child labor or slavery. But the bigger issue for vegan is how it’s made. I mentioned earlier than pure cocoa powder is safe for vegans. Itâs a common mistake to confound cocoa powder and chocolate powder together, but theyâre very different. If you see it as an ingredient in a food, it’s reasonably safe to assume it has no animal products in it. Avoid sugar and always reach for fair-trade and organic labels. Your friendly neighborhood vegan from Toronto. Cacao contains more fiber and calories than cocoa or cocoa powder does, but also significantly more nutrients. Child workers are promised good pay (and don’t get it), others are sold by traffickers to other farms. Some cocoa powder does have non-vegan ingredients. Summary: Cocoa Powder Is Vegan Yes, cocoa powder is suitable for vegans. It ⦠Cocoa powder is made from heating and processing the cacao beans. Cocoa powder is a vegan product. Under extreme poverty, children need to work to help their families. Essentially, cocoa powder is made from ground cocoa solids, which are extracted from cocoa beans. Add 4g of cocoa powder to a cup or mug. Preparation Guidelines: 1. While that has largely been stamped out in the modern world, sugar produced in poorer countries still runs the risk of child labor or unfair wages for those that harvest and process the product. For gluten-free and vegan cocoa powder, Iâd recommend the Anthonyâs Organic Cocoa Powder or the Pure Natural Miracle Cocoa Powder. Cocoa powder is generally considered vegan, and if you see it as an ingredient, it would be reasonably safe to assume it doesn't contain animal products. So the answer is Yes! Cocoa powder is usually considered vegan by most. Ingredients In World Finest Dark Chocolate. Cocoa powder, an unsweetened chocolate product, adds deep chocolate flavor to desserts and beverages. Natural Cocoa Powder is made from cocoa beans that are simply roasted, then pulverized into a fine powder. If, not what are some vegan brands? But cocoa powder is not the same as drinking chocolate. In order to be confident that your cocoa powder (or chocolate bars) aren’t products of child labor and possibly slavery, don’t buy products that just list “cocoa powder.”. While they sound similar in name and originate from the same source, cacao and cocoa are vastly different in taste, nutrition, and cost. If possible, cacao powder is a more natural and organic form, and the cacao beans provide a little more nutrition for your baking needs. The quality of the cocoa butter and powder will affect the taste. The latter frequently contains dried milk, along with many other less familiar additives. Shop: Asda, Morrison's, Sainsbury's, Tesco. In the past, there have been attempts by farms that use child labor to sell on either pure cocoa or cocoa powder to fair trade suppliers in West Africa. Unfortunately, many hot cocoa mixes contain dairy in the form of powdered milk or milk ingredients and the non-vegan ingredients often donât stop there. In its pure form, cocoa powder contains no animal products. They both taste fantastic as well. Pay attention to the fact that some chocolate drinks like hot chocolate may include dry milk in them but the pure cocoa powder is vegan and doesnât include any milk or animal product in it. The farms operate as naturally as possible to grow and process their cocoa powder and sell it for a fair price, passed onto the farm and its employees. Looking out for organic and fair-trade labels on your cocoa doesn't just make them more expensive it also ensures they are a lot more ethically sourced. Yes, cocoa powder is vegan as long as you understand what to look for. Cocoa butter is naturally free of dairy, eggs, honey, and other animal-derived ingredients, making it suitable for vegans. They are promised a good wage, which they never get, and some are even sold (literal slavery) by traffickers to other cocoa farms. Is Cocoa Powder Vegan? Cocoa powder is 100% vegetarian. Most people view being vegan as eliminating animal cruelty in all its forms, yet they often forget that we're animals too—giant furless monkeys in denial. If it does indeed contain dairy or cocoa powder, that fact needs - no, must be highlighted on the label. Yes, cocoa powder is vegan as long as you understand what to look for. While there might not be animal ingredients in the productâas other answers assertâan ethical consumer might want to look into other brands, too. (Yes, Here’s How), Are Monoglycerides and Diglycerides Vegan? The two cocoa powders recommended above are all gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, organic, and non-alkalized. Instead, buy cocoa powder that is either organic or fair trade. Stir briskly until fully mixed. If you are going to buy sugar, it's best to purchase fair-trade, organic, brown sugar, which should ensure the workers' ethical conditions and less of a chance that they used bone char during the product's processing. There are a few ways to try and ensure that your cocoa powder is cruelty-free, though. Even so-called Dutch-process cocoa powder is classed as a vegan. Some cocoa powder does have non-vegan ingredients. So far, there haven’t been any child labor or slavery concerns over cocoa from these farms. So in case you see it is an ingredient in other products, the best thing you can do is check for any allergy warnings. A blender with food processor attachment is a perfect device for making vegan sweets with cocoa. If you want an ethical and vegan cacao powder why not check out our Navitas Organic Cacao Powder review as it’s one of the best I’ve found so far. If you are buying vegan dark chocolate bars or cocoa powder, another thing to keep an eye out is added sugar. That being said, there are still plenty of cocoa powders on the market that have either been sweetened with sugar or creamed with milk. The chocolate liquor turns into cocoa butter and leaves a dry paste. Additional information. A lot of chocolate is produced in terrible conditions. It is said to be one of the richest sources of antioxidants and provides a very healthy dose of magnesium [2]. For instance, food products such as animal fats, carmine or carminic acid, sodium caseinate, honey, lactose, milk protein, glycerides, and whey often feature in hot cocoa mix ingredient lists. If you see it as an ingredient in a food, itâs reasonably safe to assume it has no animal products in it. Technically chocolate is naturally vegan. Yes, it will cost quite a bit more like most vegan products, but it’s worth it. However, it is produced on a production line with products that contain milk, so those with a milk allergy may wish to avoid it. Vegan Liftz does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The entire process does not require any animal-derived product. Cocoa Powder, Cocoa: traded in compliance with Fairtrade Standards, total 100%. Rafid Nassir is a health and fitness fanatic, with the main aim of maximising muscle mass and minimising body fat, with as little time investment as possible. It's only when we mess with it and add milk and other animal ingredients that it becomes tainted. Cocoa powder is derived from the cocoa bean, a plant, therefore it is very fine to consume on a vegan diet. We also discovered that making vegan chocolate is very simple! (E471), The Best Vegan Comfort Food to Eat When Sick. Chemical engineer turned semi-professional soccer player and freelance nutrition writer. One of the other vital ingredients in chocolate is cocoa solids, and cocoa powder is in essence the same, simply in powdered form. It has fewer calories and a bit more protein due to the process. This isn't just for the health of your teeth and waistline, either. Check There Isn’t Any Dairy in Your Cocoa Powder, What to Look for When Buying Cocoa Powder, Best Vegan & Cruelty-Free Toothpaste Brands, https://foodispower.org/human-labor-slavery/slavery-chocolate/, https://www.naturalnews.com/022610_cacao_chocolate_raw.html#. If âcocoaâ is the only ingredient on the label, there are no animal products in it. If you want to learn more, here’s a well-cited overview. We may earn a small commission on purchases made through our links. Cocoa butter is actually the fat portion of the cocoa bean and is a completely vegetarian fat source. Essentially cacao is the rawer and less processed form of pure cocoa powder. Cadbury Bourneville cocoa powder is vegan. Avoid sugar and always reach for fair-trade and organic labels. Add 200ml of hot plant milk. The Hardest Nutrients to Get on a Vegan Diet [Study Summary], How to Get Enough Protein as a Vegan: The Complete Guide, Vegan Nutrition Guide: The Best Vitamin and Mineral Sources, What Is and Isn’t Vegan: Complete Guide [List], The Best Pets for Vegans (Herbivores): The Complete Guide, Recap: Which Cocoa Powder is and Isn’t Vegan, Can You Freeze Cooked Lentils? Rated 1 out of 5. You can use cocoa powder and cacao powder interchangeably in baking recipes, smoothies, oatmeal, cookies, homemade raw treats, or even stir them into your coffee for a homemade mocha. There are also issues with child slave labor to consider when choosing a brand of cocoa powder. Ingredients: Dark Chocolate(Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Powder, Soy Lecithin, [Emulsifier], Vanilla[Artificial Flavor], Milk Powder, Ground Almonds) It is made from pressing ground up cocoa nibs (its in the inside of cocoa beans) in a mechanical press that extracts ⦠Like cocoa powder, sugar also has a long history with slavery. Yes, cocoa products are all vegan by nature. Is cocoa powder vegan? A lot of chocolate comes from places that use forced child labor and have terrible working conditions. Unfortunately, milk chocolate is now normal, and pure organic dark chocolate is getting harder and harder to find on shop shelves. I am a former chef and all cocoa is after they crush the cocoa beans some is processed into chocolate and the ohter into cocoa powder, it has no animal, milk or other ingredients other than in the porcess called "Dutched" or "Dutch Process there is a small amount of an alkaline powder to keep it from caking, a calcium based one from limestone. 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