The Independent: 14 best vegan and dairy-free Valentine's Day chocolate

Does your belle or beau love the cocoa, but milk is a no-no? Then treat them – or yourself – to one of these delicious selections.

Veganuary may be coming to an end but for vegan and lactose-intolerant chocolate lovers, the struggle to find a sweet treat to celebrate Valentine's Day can be very real.

While vegan and dairy-free chocolate is becoming more widely available at Christmas and Easter, the options are still a little sparse around 14 February.

It can be hard to tell which chocolate is free from animal products – but anything with the Vegan Society sunflower logo will guarantee this.

For example, Booja-Booja and Plamil factories are completely dairy-free, and their products carry the logo.

Other chocolate may be labelled as vegan-friendly, which means it does not contain animal products but may have traces of non-vegan ingredients because it is produced in a factory that deals with other products.

We have picked six of the best options on the market this year, ranging from heart-shaped solid chocolate to boozy truffles and luxuriant chocolate slabs, all of which can make a perfect gift for someone you're looking to treat.

Cocoa Loco dark chocolate love hearts, 100g

These organic, fair trade dark chocolate love hearts come in a perfectly sized pack, considering how rich they are. The solid hearts are made with single-origin beans from the Dominican Republic and have a smooth, slightly sweet taste. Each heart has a different message printed on it, from “I love you” to “kiss me” and “sweet heart”. If you're looking for another option, Coco Loco also makes vegan-friendly dark chocolate pralines.

Read the full article here.

Thanks to:

Writer - Katie Hilpern

WINNER OF 'BEST ORGANIC DARK CHOCOLATE EASTER EGG'

'This glossy egg is completely organic and made from 72% cocoa. It’s one for true dark chocolate fans, with an intense bitterness and complex notes of toasted nuts and coffee. And despite the shell being luxuriously thick, our testers said it melts on the tongue. 

Each egg also comes filled with chocolate buttons made from the same quality chocolate.'

Score: 83/100

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ONE OF THE 'BEST CHILDREN’S EASTER EGGS' WINNERS

'This organic chocolate rabbit is almost too adorable to eat. It's crafted from quality dark, milk and white chocolate, swirled together to create this pretty design. Each one is handmade, so totally unique, and together the sweetness is perfectly balanced.'

Score: 73/100

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WINNER OF 'BEST WHITE CHOCOLATE EASTER EGG'

'Our panel thought this tasted exactly how it was promised on the packet. Well-incorporated zesty lemon complements the creamy white chocolate, with an overall balanced sweetness. Testers enjoyed the crunchy sugar on the shell, which added a nice texture contrast.'

Score: 79/100

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