Vegan Chocolate

It's 2:00am, and I am up writing a post about chocolate. Why? Well, because chocolate is the reason why I am up at 2:00am on a Monday night...

I treated myself to a nice glass of wine and half a bar of chocolate this evening after packing up my kitchen as I prepare myself for a mid-lease move. That's right, HALF a bar of chocolate... don't judge, I'm going to run tomorrow. I'm now regretting that half bar of amazingly delicious chocolate being that I am now wired, to the max.

Why does chocolate get me wired? Well, its not the caffeine. Yes, there is caffeine in chocolate, but only in trace amounts. Only about 5-10mg per ounce. You would have to eat 15 small bars of chocolate to get the same amount of caffeine that is in a small cup of coffee.

Well then, what else is in chocolate that is keeping Dani up all night? First off, there are some awesome things called alkaloids that are found in chocolate. Alkaloids are found in many plants, and function mainly to protect the plant against things that may want to eat it. Alkaloids have played an important role in medicine for centuries due to their physiological effects. Codeine is a naturally occurring alkaloid that you may recognize - it is typically used in cough syrup.

The two main alkaloids in chocolate are theobromine (this one is toxic to many animals, including dogs, so watch out pups!) and phenethylamine. Both have strong physiological effects on the body including increased circulation, brain stimulation, increased serotonin levels (happy hormone!) and more. Studies are inconclusive about its effectiveness as an aphrodisiac, but I can confirm, at least on my end, that it is. ;)

High quality dark chocolate is most often vegan. Milk solids tend to be added as bulking agents to cheaper dark chocolates, so if you find a dark chocolate with milk solids (or even soy lecithin), then don't be expecting much. Another thing to keep in mind...the higher the cocoa content in dark chocolate, the higher the caffeine and alkaloid content.

So, now a role call on all of the amazing vegan chocolates I am currently crushing on.

Theo Chocolate
Made in Washington, these chocolate boast their amazing content with beautiful packaging! I'm a design fanatic, so aesthetic packaging is always a bonus. Try the spicy chile, which contains 70% cocoa and some amazingly awesome spices!

Alter Eco
Branded to promote social justice and fair trade agreements with cocoa growers, Alter Eco chocolate is not only vegan and delicious, but also ethical! Try the Dark Cacao 73% Chocolate bar with the roasted nibs. You won't be disappointed.

Fearless Raw Chocolate
Alright my raw foodie friends, its finally time to put down your VitaMix and take a bite of this delicious RAW chocolate! Again, I spotted this one due to its AWESOME packaging made of 100% recycled paper board! And don't get freaked out by the cute 'bite' in your Fearless bar - that 'bite' signifies the 1% of all profits donated to changemakers! This lovely chocolate company is based out of Oakland, CA. Can't wait for a tour! Try the Exploding Coconuts - 70% cocoa, 100% raw, vegan and DELICIOUS!

TCHO Chocolate
This lovely chocolate factory is located on the Embarcadero in San Francisco! Tours at 10am and 2pm every day! Still haven't gone, yet, but on the top of my list for my next city adventure. Similar to coffee, the cocoa beans are chosen for their unique flavors. I tried the 'citrus' and 'fruity' chocolates. No added flavors, just the beans! Great packaging, too, with simple coding to help the chocolate eater understand the different flavor profiles of the cocoa beans.

Now that you know all about chocolate's amazing impact on your body (and your taste buds!) get yourself out of bed and go buy some chocolate! And for those of you interested in guilt-free, serotonin-inducing chocolate indulgences, please read up on why your should buy fairly traded cocoa! ;)