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As more people seek sustainable and animal-friendly lifestyles, whether by occasionally cutting out animal products or fully committing to a plant-based diet, the reasons behind this shift are diverse. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean forgoing taste and indulgence, especially when it comes to chocolate. The range of decadent, melt-in-your-mouth vegan chocolate has significantly expanded in recent years. We’ll take you through what makes vegan chocolate special and what to look for in this plant-based alternative.
Discover a World of Plant-Based Delights
Although the classic milk chocolate of our childhood relies on dairy, the plant-based version can easily match it in creaminess and flavor. Sustainability is becoming increasingly crucial for consumers. Plant-based ingredients promote natural flavors and a mindful approach to animal and environmental well-being. The origin of these ingredients is particularly important.
When Vegan Chocolate Meets Tea: A Heavenly Combination
Few things evoke relaxation and enjoyment like a steaming cup of tea or a piece of creamy, slightly bitter chocolate with its myriad flavors. No wonder we decided to meld these two culinary highlights. The result is a unique collection of exceptional tea chocolates featuring eight creative flavor variations. The dark varieties like Orange Kiss and Grain of Truth are completely free of animal ingredients, making them perfect gifts for you and your loved ones who follow a plant-based diet.
In the Spotlight: Our Orange Kiss
For those who prefer their dessert “not too sweet,” Orange Kiss tea chocolate strikes the perfect balance. The fruity notes of organic dark chocolate blend beautifully with aromatic orange and sweet chamomile. ORIGINAL BEANS uses the cacao mass and butter from the “Arriba” bean, cultivated in Ecuador’s Mache-Chindul Reserve in Esmeraldas province. The rich cacao depth is harmoniously balanced by the fresh vibrance of the orange, offering a culinary delight for refined palates.
In the Spotlight: Our Grain of Truth
Refined dark chocolate from ORIGINAL BEANS pairs with our beloved Genmaicha, a Japanese green tea specialty made from Sencha and roasted rice. The result is our unique Grain of Truth tea chocolate. The chocolate’s subtle notes perfectly enhance the nutty flavors of the Japanese roasted tea. No classic Genmaicha would be complete without puffed rice, so our tea chocolate includes this delightful ingredient. It not only offers amazing taste but also a singular indulgence experience.
How We Get Tea into Chocolate
Tea and chocolate have been symbols of pleasure and joy for millennia. Both owe their unique taste and aroma to their origin—including factors like temperature and soil mineral content—as well as the passion and expertise of the artisans who craft them. Combining these beloved culinary elements was a natural step.
But how exactly do these two delicious products come together? Chocolatier Kevin Kugel developed a specific process to seamlessly integrate our high-quality tea with the premium chocolate from ORIGINAL BEANS, creating a symphony of diverse tea and chocolate flavors. Tea is delicately infused into liquid cocoa butter using a sophisticated recipe. Our partnership with Master Chocolatier Kevin Kugel has resulted in exquisite organic chocolates paired with PAPER & TEA’s favorite teas.
Sustainability on a New Level
The idea of crafting delightful tea chocolates from our teas was born. We needed chocolate that excelled in flavor quality and eco-friendliness. We found the perfect partner in the chocolate pioneers at ORIGINAL BEANS. Their chocolates embody a passion for excellence and the belief that all natural resources we use should be replenished in the environment. At the heart of our tea chocolates is unparalleled enjoyment, fair trade, and sustainable production, forming the foundation of our delicious creations. Learn more about this special partnership in our magazine.
What Makes Chocolate Vegan Anyway?
Vegan chocolate, like its traditional counterpart, is made from cacao mass and cocoa butter. The latter has nothing to do with regular butter but is simply the fat component of the cacao bean. Vegan chocolate is completed with purely plant-based ingredients that can vary by type. Common ingredients include plant milk alternatives like rice, almond, soy, coconut, or oat milk. Sweeteners like rice syrup, coconut blossom sugar, cane sugar, or regular sugar are used. Shea or coconut oil provide the fat content. PAPER & TEA’s vegan tea chocolates consist of just three exquisite ingredients: cacao mass, cocoa butter, and sugar. The special flavor is then enhanced by selected tea varieties’ unique aromas. When each component is of the highest quality and lovingly combined, even a minimalistic recipe can create a true flavor explosion. Vegan chocolate offers a delicious and versatile alternative centered on plant-based ingredients.
How to Truly Savor Vegan Chocolate
A chocolate tasting is more than just sampling; it’s a journey through flavors and textures. Here are some tips to make the most of your coveted chocolate: Begin by exploring the basic notes of the chocolate. Hold your nose to heighten your sense of taste. Take a piece into your mouth and let it melt, focusing on the fundamental flavors as they emerge.
Once you’ve identified the base notes, relax your nose and take a deep breath. Now focus on the aromatic notes that make the chocolate unique. Savor the scents that blend with the taste. Explore the mouthfeel by gently chewing the chocolate— is it velvety, crisp, or does it have a creamy melt? Between tasting different pieces, it’s helpful to take a sip of water. This neutralizes your palate, allowing you to rediscover each flavor nuance of the next chocolate anew. With our diverse tea chocolates, you can create a tasting experience at home for you and your loved ones.
Get Inspired – Try Our Creative Recipe
Homemade delights often have a unique taste and are easier on the wallet. All you need for homemade vegan chocolate are three basic ingredients: cocoa butter, cocoa powder, and the sweetener of your choice!
You need:
- 50 grams of cocoa butter
- 2 tbsp of cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp of sweetener of your choice, like maple syrup, rice syrup, or agave nectar.
- Toppings of your choice, like nuts, dried rose petals, or dried fruits.
Preparation:
- Gently heat the cocoa butter over a double boiler.
- Add the cocoa powder and your chosen sweetener, thoroughly mixing all the ingredients.
- Pour the chocolate into a silicone mold or onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Decorate the chocolate with your choice of toppings, creating your own flavor. Let your creativity run wild.
- Chill the chocolate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and enjoy your homemade vegan chocolate!
Vegan Chocolate is Winning Hearts—Perhaps Yours Too!
Conscious enjoyment in everyday life is becoming increasingly important, and more tea and chocolate enthusiasts are mindful of how their choices affect the environment and animals. Luckily, there’s no need to compromise when picking your favorite chocolate, thanks to many excellent plant-based options. Even outside of a vegan diet, chocolate without animal ingredients is worth exploring. The variety of flavors and combinations is endless, and perhaps your new favorite chocolate is among them! Our tea chocolates with Grain of Truth and Orange Kiss are perfect gifts for friends and family who want to try more vegan alternatives, allowing everyone to contribute to a more sustainable indulgence deliciously.
