The Best Places to Buy Dairy-Free Chocolate in Adelaide
Post
Subscribe
[SECTION]Dairy-Free and Delicious[/SECTION]
Whether you are vegan and subscribe to a dairy-free diet by choice or by force from a lack of lactase, the good news is that you don't have to sacrifice chocolate completely; you just need to find an alternative.
Life without dairy is not always easy; in fact at times it can be downright restrictive, expensive, and even frustrating - especially for a chocoholic. Yet the benefits far outweigh the bad and there are some welcome side effects associated with ditching dairy. Many people report considerable weight loss, improved digestion and immune function, and a clearer complexion almost immediately, while I was most pleased to find relief from chronic headaches.
So it is indeed possible to look and feel amazing while still consuming chocolate (in moderation and accompanied with a healthy lifestyle, of course). Admittedly, it did take a while to weed out the wonderful from the woeful, but in doing so I have discovered a whole new world of chocolate. In order to make the transition from "glass and a half" to dairy-free as seamless as possible, here are my top three chocolate choices and where to find them. You're welcome.
[SECTION]Pana Chocolate[/SECTION]
My first and greatest dairy-free discovery was
Pana Chocolate at the 2012
Body Mind Spirit Festival at the Adelaide Showground. So deviously decadent is Pana that I returned to the
Body Mind Spirit Festival the following year to stock up as discounts are quite often offered at expos.
There are many different flavours and it's difficult to choose a favourite from Fig and Wild Orange, Coconut and Goji, Sour Cherry and Vanilla, Raw Cacao, Eighty, Nuts, Rose, Cinnamon, Orange, and Mint. There was Blue-Green Algae flavour that left a foul taste in my mouth, but thankfully that one seems to be discontinued now.
Pana is reserved for special occasions because it's fudgy and rich, much like a mud cake. One bite is enough to satisfy any chocolate craving, which is lucky because it costs approximately $6.95 for a 45 gram bar. It's not cheap, but worth it for a sweet treat that's Australian made, certified organic, and a member of the Vegan Society. Be sure to keep your Pana in a cool dark place because it uses raw ingredients that melt easily.
You can purchase it online or find a stockist from the
Pana Chocolate website . Most health food and organic shops sell Pana, including
The Organic Cycle on Old South Road in Old Reynella and
The Singing Cricket Food Co-op on High Street in Willunga.
Wild Thyme Organic Market and Café on Melbourne Street in North Adelaide also sell Pana and claim it to be "possibly the best chocolate in the world".
[SECTION]Alter Eco[/SECTION]
For those that prefer a thin firm chocolate,
Alter Eco is the way to go. There are eight distinct flavours made with fair trade and organically grown ingredients; however two are not dairy-free. You will unfortunately need to avoid the Dark Velvet and Dark Coconut Toffee as they contain butter fat and whole milk powder.
Luckily there are six irresistible flavours with interesting textures that are all dairy-free. The Dark Almond has slowly roasted nuts, Dark Cacao contains crunchy cocoa nibs, and Dark Blackout is an intense 85% cocoa. I can't resist the refreshing bite of Dark Mint, the crispy Dark Quinoa, and tangy taste of Dark Twist (the twist is pieces of crystallised orange peel, yum).
The 80 grams blocks are priced at around $5.95 and further information can be found at the
Alter Eco website . It's sold at Oxfam, online stores, and health food shops like
Moana Natural Health & Organics on Griffiths Drive,
Wilsons Organics on Pirie Street in Adelaide, and others mentioned in the following article,
Where is the Best Place for Organic Shopping in Adelaide?
[SECTION]Noble Choice[/SECTION]
Noble Choice makes the top three mostly for its affordability, but also because it tastes more like milk chocolate than dark, which makes for a nice change. There is a plain Dark Chocolate, Dark Raspberry, Dark Mint, and Dark Almond. All are so smooth and creamy that you won't believe it's not dairy.
Your wallet, as well as your tastebuds, will rejoice because it costs about $2.95 for an 85 gram block. It's quite readily available in the health food aisle of many Coles supermarkets (like the one at Centro Colonnades in Noarlunga Centre) and health food shops (such as the
Natural Food Barn at Southgate Plaza in Morphett Vale). If you're not sure where to buy it, you can send an inquiry from the
Eskal Foods website .
Most stores, for some reason, only seem to have the almond flavour, but the Foodland at the
Pasadena Green Shopping Centre on Fiveash Drive stocks all four. The Pasadena Foodland has a terrific range of dairy-free chocolate, health foods, and organic alternatives. Not only does it stock Noble Choice, but also Pana, Alter Eco, and many other options to appease a sweet tooth.
[SECTION]Loving Earth[/SECTION]
An honorary mention goes to
Loving Earth for creating fair trade chocolate packed with nutritious, raw, and organic ingredients. It isn't quite as smooth as those previously mentioned, which is perhaps why I like it, but don't love it.
Retailing from $6.95 for a 100 gram block (prices seem to vary considerably), it represents reasonable value and if you're in the mood for something a bit different, it's definitely worth trying. Plus, the
Loving Earth website is a very useful resource with an online store, recipes, and interesting articles on topics such as the health benefits of chocolate.
The use of unusual superfoods and huge range organic items makes Loving Earth a staple at most natural health shops. It can be purchased from places like
Romeo's Organic Wholefoods on O'Connell Street in North Adelaide,
The Organic Market and Café on Druid Avenue in Stirling, and
The Organik Store and Café on Broadway in Glenelg South.
When it comes to allergy- and vegan-friendly eating and shopping in South Australia, we have a few decent options. Many have already been discussed, but there is also
Bliss Organic Café on Compton Street in Adelaide, which offers organic vegan meals and grocery items, and
Everything Vegan on Wright Street in Adelaide. As the name suggests, the specialty grocery store is the place to go for everything vegan, including an enormous selection of chocolate and confectionery. You can even order and have your groceries and goodies delivered to your door from the
Vegan Online website .
#near_adelaide
#greater_adelaide
#food_wine
#easter
#chocolate
#adelaide_city
#organic
#south_australia
#vegan
#lists
%wnadelaide
131040 - 2023-06-13 07:26:02