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Best Coconut Oil Brands for Cooking Review 2018

July 19, 2018 By Dishan Mendis Leave a Comment

Best Coconut Oil Brands For Cooking Review 2018For this review, we’ve selected the two best-selling coconut oil brands, where one is organic unrefined (virgin) and the other is organic refined.

We discuss all the product details, how coconuts are sourced, quality & production process, our cooking test, a few tips to use it, and a few details about the producer.

While unrefined pure coconut oil is extracted with the lowest amount of heat to preserve its nutrition profile, refined oil is extracted slightly at a higher temperature still keeping its all-important medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) intact.

Unrefined coconut oil has a smoke point of 350 F (177 C) and comes with its fresh coconut taste & aroma whereas refined coconut oil has a higher smoke point of 400 F (204 Celsius) and comes with a neutral taste & aroma. If you need a more thorough comparison between unrefined & refined coconut oil, you can read our guide here.

Viva Naturals Organic Extra Virgin Unrefined Coconut Oil Review

Viva Naturals Organic Extra Virgin Unrefined Coconut Oil ReviewViva Naturals Organic Extra Virgin Unrefined Coconut Oil Review

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Product Details


  • Product ratings: 4.7 out of 5 (from 16788 online consumer reviews)
  • Ingredients: organic extra-virgin cold-pressed coconut oil  
  • Sourced from fresh hand-picked coconuts
  • Country of origin: Philippines (2nd largest coconut producer)
  • USDA certified organic & non-GMO project verified
  • Free of pesticides, bleach, hexane, cholesterol, trans fat and it’s non-hydrogenated

  • Smoke point: 350 F (177 C)

  • Melting point at 76 F (24C)
  • Comes with healthy medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) and antioxidants
  • Jars are made of BPA-free plastic
  • Shelf life: 2 years
  • 90 days money back guarantee!

How Coconuts are Sourced


According to Viva Naturals, they harvest their organic top-grade coconuts at its peak for optimum freshness and nutritional value from the best regions with rich fertile soils in the Philippines (2nd largest coconut producer) handpicked by skilled native farmers.

This adds human intuition & experience into the coconut harvesting process as opposed to large-scale farms where thousands of coconuts are harvested by machines daily which could compromise on quality.

In order to preserve the medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), antioxidants, freshness, flavor & aroma these coconuts are cold-pressed with their own proprietary extraction technique within hours of collecting the coconuts.

Again this is way better than storing coconuts in warehouses for weeks or months which could weaken its nutrition.

Why We Recommend Viva Naturals Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil


If you ask three features to make a commercial coconut oil pure & healthy those would be,

  1. Sourcing from fresh coconuts
  2. Certified organic
  3. Cold-pressed

And this product has all those features ticked.   

Though refined coconut oils are sourced with dried copra and may not come with desirable antioxidants due to the processing with high temperatures, Viva Naturals unrefined coconut oil is sourced from fresh organic coconuts and comes with the goodness of antioxidants!     

It is unrefined, organic, and cold-pressed, a pure coconut oil which has a pleasant tropical aroma and a natural coconut oil taste to take advantage of if you fancy a bit of coconut taste into your recipes.

Being USDA certified organic, non-GMO project verified, non-hexane, non-hydrogenated and free of harmful chemicals mean the oil has 3rd party verified quality & purity that you can trust.

The quality is further backed by its great track record so far with a good positive rating coming from an impressive 16788 consumer reviews and a 90-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied to show that the producer stands by their product 100%!

How You Can Use it


  1. Cooking (sautéing, tempering curries)
  2. Baking (cookies, brownies, etc.)
  3. Salad dressings
  4. Make popcorn, coconut butter, and egg-free vegan mayonnaise.
  5. Substitute for butter (a great option for vegans)
  6. As a spread for your morning toasts and a dip for breadsticks, etc.
  7. Use it with oatmeal, soups, smoothies, or as a coffee creamer
  8. Dietary supplement
  9. Carrier oil for essential oils
  10. Hair conditioner
  11. Hair detangler
  12. Face & body moisturizer
  13. Massage oil
  14. Natural lip balm
  15. For dry hands
  16. Shaving cream   

As far as the coconut oil health benefits are concerned, Viva Naturals coconut oil is a rich source of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) which may help experience moderate weight loss, improve metabolism and provide nourishment for a healthy gut & digestive tract.  

The lauric acid, capric acid, and caprylic acid of the oil provide protection against viral, fungal, microbial, and bacterial elements which could boost your immune.

Unlike olive oil which gets oxidised with high heat, this coconut oil is quite stable due to its saturated fats as long as you don’t need it for cooking with a temperature more than 350 F / 177 C (smoke point) which is good enough for most stovetop cooking except for high heat stir-frying & deep frying.

It has a shelf-life of 2 years and requires to be stored in a cool, dry place and does not require refrigeration. Viva Naturals containers are made of safe, BPA-free, food-grade plastic

Do note that it has a melting point of 76 F and may come in solid or liquid form though either form will not alter any of the nutrients or the quality of the oil. If you always need it in a solid form you can refrigerate it or store it at a place with a temperature less than 76 F.

Cooking Test


What we’ve noticed by using this oil was that heating was pretty fast. We stir-fried some vegetables for like 2 minutes, just to test how it would do under high heat. Boy, it was scrumptious! There was no strong and burning coconut smell even at high heat and the stir-fried vegetables turned out really great!

We also used it as a spread on our toasts and had a nice hint of coconut flavor.

One of the best tasting coconut oils we’ve used, hands down!

Details & Core Values of Viva Naturals


  • USA based company
  • Their focus is on ethical sourcing, sustainability, and being environmentally friendly
  • Quality control in every step of the production
  • Making products affordable
  • Take care of workforce, suppliers & growers
  • Making donations for charitable causes that make a profound impact

Nutiva Organic Neutral Tasting Steam Refined Coconut Oil Review

Nutiva Organic Neutral Tasting Steam Refined Coconut Oil ReviewNutiva Organic Neutral Tasting Steam Refined Coconut Oil Review

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Product Details


  • Product ratings: 4.5 out of 5 (from 2266 online consumer reviews)
  • Ingredients: organic refined expeller-pressed coconut oil (read our guide about the difference between refined & unrefined)
  • Sourced from organic dried coconuts
  • Country of origin: Philippines (2nd largest coconut producer)
  • Neutral flavor & smell
  • USDA certified organic & non-GMO project verified
  • Free of pesticides, bleach, hexane, cholesterol, trans fat and it’s non-hydrogenated

  • Smoke point is 400 F (204 Celsius)

  • Melting point 76 F (24C)
  • 23 oz. coconut oil comes in a glass jar and other quantities come in BPA, BPS, and phthalate free FDA approved food grade plastic containers
  • Shelf life: 2 years

Why We Recommend Nutiva Organic Refined Coconut Oil


Nutiva sources sustainably farmed organic dried coconuts from Philippines (2nd largest coconut producer).

It is expeller-pressed and steam refined for a neutral flavor and odor (compared to unrefined coconut oil which has the coconut flavor & aroma) with a higher smoke point of 400 F (204 C). This makes it ideal for stir-frying & deep-frying adding more versatility in high heat cooking.

The quality is assured, as its whole process is USDA certified organic, non-hydrogenated, free of hexane & other dangerous chemicals while having no cholesterol or trans fat!

It is also a coconut oil product that shows a good track record with consumers which is evident by its positive rating of 4.5 out of 5 from 2266 consumer reviews.     

An ideal product when your recipes require a cooking oil without any coconut oil flavor or odor making it one of the most versatile culinary oils.

How You Can Use it


  1. Deep frying (stable & extremely low oxidation due to high smoke point of 400 F)
  2. Cooking (stir-frying, sautéing, tempering curries)
  3. Great substitute for all types of cooking with canola oil, olive oil, vegetable oil or butter
  4. Baking
  5. To make popcorn and sauces without coconut flavor
  6. For skin & hair when you need odorless coconut oil

Nutiva organic coconut oil contains 62% of medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) along with lauric acid and caprylic acid making it a good source of nourishment.

As we discussed before, MCTs are good for weight loss, better metabolism, healthy digestion and its fatty acids have antibacterial benefits. However compared to Viva Naturals unrefined coconut oil, it may not have the antioxidant properties such as phytonutrients.

All in all, Nutiva organic coconut oil can be used as an all-purpose oil for cooking & baking without coconut flavor & aroma, and also can be used as an odorless hair & skin care oil.  

There is no need to refrigerate it and you can store it at room temperature without any exposure to direct sunlight.

Cooking Test


Since the oil was solid, it was much easier to spoon it into the frying pan. This time we tested the oil with deep frying french fries. At high heat we couldn’t detect any smoke.

As expected there was no imparted coconut flavor or smell, and the french fries looked & tasted as it supposed to be. The fries were golden, crispy, and delicious!

Details & Core Values of Nutiva


  • USA based company founded in 1999
  • Many products are vegan certified
  • 1% of all sales go to sustainable agriculture which amounts to more than $3 million
  • Their focus is on innovation, quality, well-being, community, social & environmental responsibility
  • Support the Fair Trade Movement
  • California Green Business certified
  • Warehouse and headquarters in California are certified zero waste by the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council
  • B Lab certified company (required standards: social sustainability, environmental performance, accountability, and transparency to the public)

Conclusion


Both Viva Naturals organic extra virgin unrefined coconut oil and Nutiva organic neutral tasting steam refined coconut oil are with no doubt top selling & healthiest coconut oil brands compared to other commercial coconut oil brands sourced from low-grade non-organic coconuts and extracted with harmful chemicals.

To put it in a nutshell, the basic similarities & differences between these two brands would be,

Similarities

  1. Sourced and processed according to organic standards
  2. No chemicals used
  3. Higher in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs)
  4. Enough smoke point for most stovetop cooking
  5. 2-year shelf life
  6. Melt at approx. 76 F (24C)

Differences

Viva Naturals Organic Virgin Unrefined Coconut Oil Nutiva Organic Refined Coconut Oil
1. Natural coconut flavor & aroma 1. Neutral in taste & odor
2. Smoke point is 350 F (177 C) 2. Smoke point is 400 F (204 C)
3. Made with organic fresh coconuts 3. Made with organic dried coconuts
4. High in antioxidants 4. Antioxidants low to none
5. Relatively expensive 5. Relatively cheap

 

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: coconut oil, reviews

Best Vegan Cookie Brands (Real Cookies NOT Biscuits!)

July 4, 2018 By Dishan Mendis Leave a Comment

Best Vegan Cookie Brands Review

Sometimes it can be confusing when we’re talking about cookies due to the fact that cookies being put under the same umbrella of biscuits. Even some biscuit manufacturers call their products as cookies on the wrapper possibly due to the non-specific definition of a cookie i.e. ‘a sweet biscuit’.

Search cookies on Google images and you will see what a typical cookie should look like…

So let cookies be cookies and biscuits be biscuits so that we get to enjoy both worlds and this post is dedicated for all those pure cookie lovers (with a lot of variety of course) where we show the best vegan cookie brands and discuss about flavors, taste test, quality, and nutrition.

All these cookies are dairy-free (lactose-free), egg-free and some cookies are gluten-free, soy-free and nut-free as well.

1) Uncle Eddies Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies with Walnuts


Uncle Eddies Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies With Walnuts Review

Official website: www.uncleeddiesvegancookies.com

A lovely vegan cookie brought to you by a family-owned bakery in Los Angeles, California. It was a story about how a cookie recipe maker went from being vegetarian to vegan overnight paving the way for a great vegan cookie brand.

They always look for organic and fairly traded ingredients from suppliers who are involved in sustainable agriculture. They’re also committed to environmentally friendly packaging and products.

Take a look at our taste test!

Uncle Eddies Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies Taste Test

Ahmmmm these cookies smelled really good to start with! They were neither too hard nor too soft and had a nice, soft texture. Not crunchy but the texture was moist and felt really good chewing it. Two thumbs up from us for these scrumptious cookies! These cookies have to be one of the best vegan cookies out there hands down!

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 cookie

  • Calories 130
  • Total Fat 6g (trans fat 0g / saturated fat 3.0g)
  • Sodium 110mg
  • Total Carbohydrate 18g
  • Sugars 10g
  • Protein 2g

2) Emmy’s Organic Macaroon Vegan Cookies


Emmy's Organic Macaroon Vegan Cookies Review

Official website: emmysorganics.com

The kind of brand that was built upon a sweet story where a young couple’s romance turning into a great family business. Contributing to the community, being environmentally conscious and taking care of everyone involved are some of the values their business is grounded on.

It is certified vegan, organic, gluten-free, non-GMO verified and made in a dedicated gluten-free & dairy-free facility.

If you’re a fan of macaroons then these cookies are a great option!

Emmy’s Organic Macaroon Dark Cacao Cookies Taste Test

Emmy's Organic Macaroon Dark Cacao Cookies Taste Test

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These cookies are quite small in size but are thick. We really liked the texture. Very soft, tender and not your typical crunchy cookie. After all these are macaroon cookies! Though it doesn’t feel exactly like your standard macaroon, the coconut flavor was there. The coconut was possibly well shredded. No bitter taste as well. A good choice if you’re after something different!

Emmy’s Organic Macaroon Chocolate Chip Cookies Taste Test

Emmy's Organic Macaroon Chocolate Chip Cookies Taste Test

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These chocolate chip cookies were awesome! It was like having a macaroon version of a chocolate chip cookie. No hesitation in recommending!

Emmy’s Organic Macaroon Lemon Ginger Cookies Taste Test

Emmy's Organic Macaroon Lemon Ginger Cookies Taste Test

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These had a well-balanced taste of lemon & ginger. Nothing too intense and you get to enjoy both flavors! If you love the tastes of lemon & ginger then here’s a cookie to try!

3) Maxine’s Heavenly Vegan & Gluten-Free Cookie Review


Official website: maxinesheavenly.com

Maxine’s Heavenly had its humble beginnings when Tim Miller’s mom, Maxine made those amazing cookies with her artistry of knowing how to combine ingredients & flavors that produce the kind of taste loved by everyone around her.

Though at the beginning it was all about those scrumptious cookies, with more knowledge over time about healthy eating and ingredients paved the way to replace ingredients one by one that also fitted a vegan & healthy lifestyle while holding true to the original cookies made by Maxine. 

Instead of using ingredients with gluten, processed flours & sugar, animal products and empty calories they chose much healthier alternatives that are nutritious and guilt-free!

Maxine’s Heavenly cookies are certified vegan, certified gluten-free, non-GMO project verified, soy-free and preservatives free

Note: 

One small piece of advice, since these cookies are soft-baked they can easily crumble if not delivered properly. So unless you’re buying directly from the stores, make sure to get them delivered with the right packaging (snack packs in boxes recommended instead of bags) keeping all the cookies intact. 

Maxine’s Heavenly Cookies Taste Test

Chocolate Chocolate Chunk

Well, we all know that special taste and the great combination chocolates and cookie dough can create. These cookies looked really appetizing and you can already see those huge chocolate chunks staying true to its name, ya ‘Chocolate Chocolate Chunk’!

Besides being a healthy snack these cookies got richness & decadence written all over it and it was love at first bite! They were so chocolaty and unlike your typical dry cookies these were so moist and soothing when chewed. Nothing granular or rough about them…so soft and chunky!

And one more thing, Maxine’s Heavenly cookies have some special characteristics of its own…they are soft baked and feels like you’re having cookies and brownies together getting a taste of both worlds.  

So after eating the whole pack, we asked ourselves, why do we feel like these are homemade? Oh yes, we get it, when you’ve got a vegan cookie serving your sweet tooth with quality ingredients you can trust developed from a beloved original recipe (a ‘mom knows best’ recipe if you will) this is how you feel! 

Some of you may also like them chilled, so feel free to refrigerate and give it a try!  

Ingredients: 

Gluten-free oat blend (oats, oat flour, oat fiber), palm fruit oil*, semi-sweet chocolate chunks (cane sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter), organic coconut sugar, white rice flour, organic coconut nectar, dates, arrowroot flour, water, cocoa, flaxseed, organic gum acacia, sunflower lecithin, pure chocolate extract (alcohol, vanilla extract, chocolate concentrate, water), sea salt, baking soda

*roundtable on sustainable palm oil (RSPO) certified

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk

If peanut butter is your thing here’s a tempting peanut butter cookie to try! Maxine’s Heavenly uses their own peanut butter made from scratch so you can make sure it has a lot of authenticity to it.

As expected these cookies were generously packed with chocolate chunks and were delicious! We noted that the texture is bit on the dry side and crumbly, unlike the chocolate chocolate chunk which was moist and chewy. 

Eating them reminded us of peanut butter cup cookies and with in-house peanut butter & added chocolate chunks gave these cookies the richness and extra bit of indulgence we were yearning for.

With oat flour, peanut butter, chocolate chunks and roasted peanuts it’s quite difficult to get it wrong! 

Ingredients: 

Gluten free oat blend (oats, oat flour), palm fruit oil*, peanut butter (dry roasted peanuts), semi-sweet chocolate chunks (cane sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter), organic coconut sugar, organic coconut nectar, white rice flour, dates, arrowroot flour, water, dry roasted peanuts, flaxseed, organic gum acacia, sunflower lecithin, sea salt, baking soda

*roundtable on sustainable palm oil (RSPO) certified

Almond Chocolate Chunk

These cookies had whole almonds and natural almond extract so if you’re a big fan of almonds these are for you! They were slightly dry and gritty with a soft bite and a crumbly texture. 

We strongly felt the almond flavor with almond pieces and almond extract put together but it was nicely counterbalanced by the sweetness of coconut sugar and chocolate chunks

Again another lovely flavor from Maxine’s Heavenly with the nourishment of almonds!  

Ingredients: 

Gluten free oat blend (oats, oat flour, oat fiber), palm fruit oil*, semi-sweet chocolate chunks (cane sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter), organic coconut sugar, white rice flour, organic coconut nectar, dates, almonds, arrowroot flour, water, flaxseed, organic gum acacia, sunflower lecithin, organic pure almond extract, sea salt, baking soda

*roundtable on sustainable palm oil (RSPO) certified

Cinnamon Oatmeal Raisin

The moment you hear oatmeal you know what comes to mind…’breakfast’, and yes these cookies can be a nice addition to your breakfast! With every bite, we noticed oats and the powerful & spicy cinnamon punch, while feeling the sweetness of juicy raisins!

You can also use the crumbles to top vegan vanilla ice cream or vegan yogurt adding more nourishment & flavor to your desserts. Not only these cookies can be a great breakfast addition but can pleasingly complement your evening tea or coffee!

So, in the end, it was all about deliciousness with wholesome goodness of oats!

Ingredients: 

Gluten Free Oat Blends (oats, oat flour, oat fiber), Palm Fruit Oil*, Raisins, Organic Coconut Sugar, White Rice Flour, Organic Coconut Nectar, Dates, Arrowroot Flour, Water, Flaxseed, Organic Gum Acacia, Sunflower Lecithin, Sea Salt, Sunflower Oil, Baking Soda

*roundtable on sustainable palm oil (RSPO) certified

4) Lucy’s Chocolate Chip Vegan Cookies


Lucy's Chocolate Chip Vegan Cookies Review

Lucy’s Chocolate Chip Cookies are founded by a physician & mother Dr. Lucy.  It is an award-winning chocolate chip cookie (per manufacturer) and all cookies are non-GMO, vegan, and gluten-free, with no peanuts, tree nuts, milk, or eggs.

These cookies have many organic ingredients and they have no trans fat and cholesterol.

If you have allergies and looking for a quality cookie brand, these cookies are a great option to consider!

Lucy’s Chocolate Chip Cookies Taste Test

These cookies looked so appetizing and were really delicious! They were so crisp & crunchy (oh that crunch felt so good), buttery and flavorful. If Enjoy Life cookies were the melting moist type these are the dry crunchy type which will absorb well if you dip it into any plant milk. Being a gluten-free cookie, it didn’t disappoint at all and a sweet alternative!  

Nutrition Facts

Lucy's Chocolate Chip Cookies Nutrition facts

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5) Enjoy Life Vegan Cookies


Enjoy Life Vegan Cookies Review

Official website: enjoylifefoods.com/cookies

Enjoy Life has been providing tasty, allergy-friendly snacks since 2001. According to Enjoy Life Foods, it is the first gluten-free company to be given non-GMO status for all of its products.

The cookie flavors we’ve mentioned below are verified non-GMO, allergy-friendly, certified gluten-free, and vegan.

Enjoy Life products are free from wheat, peanuts, dairy, tree nuts, soy, casein, sulfites, eggs, lupin, and sesame.

Made in a dedicated nut and gluten-free facility.

Vegan Flavors/Variety: Enjoy Life Crunchy Cookies Chocolate Chip, Enjoy Life Crunchy Mini Cookie Double Chocolate,  Enjoy Life Crunchy Mini Cookie Chocolate Chip, Enjoy Life Crunchy Mini Cookie Sugar Crisp, Enjoy Life Crunchy Cookies Sugar Crisp, Enjoy Life Soft Baked Cookies Chocolate Chip, Enjoy Life Soft Baked Cookies Double Chocolate Brownie, Enjoy Life Soft Baked Cookies Gingerbread Spice, Enjoy Life Soft Baked Mini Cookie Chocolate Chip, Enjoy Life Soft Baked Mini Cookie Double Chocolate Brownie, Enjoy Life Soft Baked Mini Cookie Snickerdoodle, Enjoy Life Soft Baked Cookies Snickerdoodle.

Enjoy Life Soft Baked Chocolate Chip Cookie Taste Test

Enjoy Life Soft Baked Chocolate Chip Cookie Nutrition FactsEnjoy Life Soft Baked Chocolate Chip Cookie Taste Test

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These vegan non-dairy cookies definitely smelled like a chocolate chip cookie. They felt really good while chewing. The texture was soft, gooey and melted really well. Not dry at all. A thumbs up from us and a great addition to your sweet tooth!

Enjoy Life Soft Baked Double Chocolate Brownie Cookie Taste Test

Enjoy Life Soft Baked Double Chocolate Brownie Cookie Nutrition FactsEnjoy Life Soft Baked Double Chocolate Brownie Cookies Taste Test

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These were delicious! The texture was soft, moist and we thoroughly enjoyed! It does say Double Chocolate Brownie. So it was like a hybrid of cookies & brownies. Something different but in a good way! Recommended!

6) Lenny & Larry’s The Complete Vegan Cookie


Lenny & Larry's The Complete Vegan Cookie Review

Official website: www.lennylarry.com

Since 1993 Lenny & Larry’s has been providing quality baked goods. Not only they’re experimenting with new flavors and new ingredients to provide you great taste but with the goodness of protein and fiber as well.

A great option if you’re an avid traveler and when you’re on the go, you have the convenience of having these cookies to get your protein & fiber to keep you nourished & filled!

These cookies are quite big and you know what we mean when the serving size is half a cookie 😉 Actually, your typical cookie might be 1/2 the size, so two persons can have one cookie together!

Nutrition:

  • Protein: 16g per cookie
  • Fiber: 8g per cookie

Not only these cookies are non-dairy & vegan but they are non-GMO, no high fructose corn syrup, no cholesterol, no preservatives, no artificial sweeteners, no trans fat and soy-free (great choice if you have soy allergies).

Note:

The product page on Amazon may say soy protein but their new protein blend is made out of pea protein isolate, brown rice protein, and wheat gluten with no soy.

Flavors/Variety: Peanut Butter, Birthday Cake, Choc-O-Mint, Chocolate Chip, Coconut Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate, Oatmeal Raisin, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Spice, White Chocolate Macadamia

White Chocolate Macadamia Taste Test

White Chocolate Macadamia Taste Test

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This cookie looked very much like the cookie on the wrapper with lots of white chocolate chips. It tasted great and slightly similar to the birthday cake cookie below but with white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts! Though loaded with protein,  there was no protein aftertaste.

What is unique about this cookie is the fact that it has white chocolate chips while being vegan. This is a combination which is a rarity since finding vegan white chocolates is quite difficult though there are few vegan white chocolate brands.

It’s very crumbly and got a very good texture for a cookie. It was thick and filling! Personally, we enjoyed the taste but you just have to try it for yourself to find out since it comes with white chocolate chips.

Oatmeal Raisin Taste Test

Oatmeal Raisin Taste Test

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As expected these cookies smelled like oatmeal with raisins with a pungent cinnamon smell (adding spiciness). We saw the raisins and a bit of cinnamon! Not bad at all. It did taste like oatmeal with raisins with that spicy taste of cinnamon. This was a cookie that lived up to its flavor it was supposed to deliver. No weird tastes at all. What you see is what you get. An authentic cookie!!

Birthday Cake Taste Test

Birthday Cake Taste Test

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The first thing we checked when we opened the wrapper was to see whether the cookie had sprinkles on it. No disappointment, the cookie did have sprinkles on it. After all this cookie is a birthday cake right? The texture was soft and it tasted like a cookie & cake combo! Nice cookie to serve on your birthdays or any other party! 

Peanut Butter Taste Test

Peanut Butter Taste Test

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These cookies were not that crunchy and were soft without any overpowering peanut butter taste. It also didn’t have much of a protein aftertaste which is good. So overall these were quite good and you should give it a try.

 

Best Vegan Cookie Brands Review!

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: reviews, vegan cookies, vegan snacks

Best Multi-Purpose Specialty Blenders Review 2018

March 23, 2018 By Dishan Mendis Leave a Comment

Best Multi-Purpose Specialty Blenders Review

In this apple to apple comparison and review, we compared only top-of-the-range blenders with multi-tasking capacity and the review contains a comparison table, consumer ratings, blender features/specs, functionality & versatility,  general price, quality/durability (warranty), pros & cons, and many more details with a few tips on do’s & don’ts when using a blender. 

We did all the hard work spending countless hours to bring the details for you to make a solid purchasing decision depending on your needs & budget!

Blenders have come a long way with continuous improvements and here we are in the 21st century having the luxury of many options and features to play with.

This is great news if you’re a vegan since a blender can do wonders making your vegan recipes/diets convenient and healthy!

If your only requirement is smoothies or juices then we presume these multi-purpose blenders can be excessive, and a personal blender would just do the job.

But the multi-purpose specialty blenders can be extremely convenient when you have a variety of tasks such as,

  • Smoothies
  • Crushing ice
  • Purees
  • Hot soups
  • Baby food
  • Vegan ice cream
  • Nut butter
  • Grind seeds & grains 
  • Mixing batters
  • Making doughs 

These blenders can make a big difference be it for optimum health, saving time & money or serving a specific need.

Fundamentally, a blender consists of three main components:

  • Container
  • Blade assembly
  • Motor

The blenders which have perfected these three core components have gone on to become the market leaders today.

Besides the basics, other elements to consider are:

  • The display & controls
  • Size
  • Electrical ratings (120 V / 230 V)
  • Plug type
  • Design (ease of maintenance & aesthetic value)
  • Colors (for aesthetic value)

Why Invest in a Quality Multi-Purpose Blender Than a Cheap One


  • Blending may help better digestion of nutrients thus quality blenders give you the best blend of vegetables, greens, fruits, nuts, seeds, etc. There is so much power in these machines, they can pulverize everything (the seeds, the nuts, the fibers)! 
  • Higher quality means higher durability which in turn may save your time and money for having to replace the whole blender or parts in the long run
  • Gives you extended warranties
  • Provides more versatility with multi-tasking:  smoothies, crushing ice, making purees, hot soups, baby food, churning vegan ice cream, nut butter, grinding seeds & grains, mixing batters or even making doughs
  • More features mean more control over your blending and more convenience
  • Top quality specialty blenders with established brand names are expected to be well tested 
  • Can also be used for restaurants, cafes or if you’re a professional recipe maker these top-tier blenders can give the best texture & consistency

Vitamix 750 vs. Vitamix 5200 vs. Blendtec 625 vs. Oster Versa vs. Ninja Professional BL660


 

Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender Vitamix 5200 Blendtec Designer Series Blender Oster Versa Pro BLSTVB-RV0-000 Ninja Professional Blender (BL660)
Consumer Rating 4.5 / 5 (from 239 reviews) 4.5 / 5 (from 795 reviews) 4.3 / 5 (from 419 reviews) 3.8 / 5 (from 651 reviews) 4.4 / 5 (from 3301 reviews)
Price Range* $500-600 $350-450 $300-400 $150-200 $100-150
Warranty 7 years 7 years 7 years 7 years 1 year
Made in Country USA USA USA China China
Since 1937 (approx.) 1937 (approx.) 1975 1946 (approx.) 1995
Horsepower /  Watts 2.2 peak / 1440 watts 2 peak / 1380 Watts 3 peak  / 1,560 watts 1400 Watts 1100 Watts
Maximum Motor RPM 37,000 (approx.) 37,000 (approx.) 29,000 (approx.) 28,000 (approx.) 24,000 (approx.)
Motor Heat Prevention Radial cooling fan and thermal protection system for auto shut-off when overheated Radial cooling fan and thermal protection system for auto shut-off when overheated Air intake and output design that keeps the motor cool with temperature icon on display to indicate overheat A fuse is there for auto shut-off when overheated Activation of auto shut-off when overheated
Plug Type & Electrical Ratings†: 120 V /  230 V  Three prong plug, 120 V †, 50/60 Hz, 12 amps  Three prong plug, 120 V †, 50/60 Hz, 11.5 amps US standard wall plug, 120 V † Three prong plug, 120 V † Two prong plug, 120 V †
Blades Stainless-steel Stainless-steel Stainless-steel Stainless-steel Stainless-steel
Blades Type Four-pronged blades measuring 4 in. diameter Four-pronged blades measuring 3-in diameter Two-pronged ultra-hard stainless steel cold-forged wingtip blade Six-point blade (four horizontal & two vertical) with Duralast™ All-Metal Drive tested to blend up to 10,000 smoothies and is backed by a 10-year warranty

Ninja Blade technology with shaft through the center of the jar with six multiple blades

Container Volume 64 ounce/ 1.9 litres 64 ounce / 1.9 litres 64 ounce / 1.9 litres 64 ounce / 1.9 litres 72 oz
Container Material BPA-free, impact-resistant Eastman Tritan™ copolyester high-quality food grade plastic BPA-free, impact-resistant Eastman Tritan™ copolyester high-quality food grade plastic BPA-free, impact-resistant Tritan™ copolyester  food grade plastic BPA-free, impact-resistant Tritan™ food grade plastic BPA-free plastic
Spout Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Lid 2-piece spill proof lid for adding ingredients and to use the tamper while blending 2-piece spill proof lid for adding ingredients and to use the tamper while blending 2-piece lid for adding ingredients while blending which is spill proof, secure-fitting and vented Spill-proof 2-piece lid for adding ingredients / use the tamper while blending. The filler cap is 2 oz / 60 ml which can be used as a measuring cup. The lid has a pour spout and a handle
Control Panel Manual control knob that gives you more control over the blender’s speed and comes with 5 preset functions and pulse switch Manual control knob that gives you more control over the blender’s speed with high/variable switch Illuminated capacitive touch control surface/touch slider sensor that gives you manual control over the blender’s speed / easy to read, universal icons Variable speed dial to instantly adjust speed and comes with preset functions and pulse option Speed settings, single serve, and pulse option
Preset Functions 5 functions: smoothies, hot soups, frozen desserts, purees and self-cleaning No 6 functions: batter, crushed ice, smoothie, ice cream, whole juice, soup 3 programmed settings (smoothies, dips/spreads, and soup) Single serve
No of Speed Settings 10 10 8 8 3
Maintenance / Cleaning Self-cleaning: drop in some dish soap and a splash of warm water, and select self-cleaning function to let the machine clean itself in 30-60 seconds. Drop in dish soap and warm water, and select variable speed one turn machine on and slowly increase speed to variable speed 10, then to high to let the machine clean itself in 30-60 seconds. Add dish soap and hot water to the blender jar and press the pulse button for 5 seconds Fill the container half full with warm water and add 2 drops of liquid soap.

Close the jar with the lid and filler cap. Turn speed dial to a “low” speed and then increase to “high”. Run for 30-60 seconds.

Hand washing or with dishwasher
Dishwasher Safe? N/A N/A Yes No Yes
Cord Storage Under the base Under the base At the back of the motor base cover Bottom of

the base

Cord stuff box located in the back of the base
Cord Length 6 feet 6 feet 3.5 feet (approx.) 16 inches 3.25 feet
Dimensions ‡ 17.5 x 7.7 x 9.4 20.5 x 8.7 x 7.2 15 x 9.2 x 7 17.6 x 10.3 x 9.3 16.38 x 12 x 9.25
Weight Pounds / Kg 12.5 lbs / 5.7 Kg 10.56 lbs / 4.8 Kg 8 lbs /  3.6 Kg 11.8 lbs / 5.3 Kg 9.96 lbs / 4.5 Kg
Colors Black, Heritage Black, White Black, Red Black Gray
What’s included in the packaging § Motor base, low-profile 64-ounce container, getting started guide, user manual, DVD, cookbook, low-profile tamper. Motor base, classic 64-ounce container, getting started guide, user manual, DVD, classic tamper. Blender motor base, blender jar, recipe book, owner’s manual Blender motor base, blender jar, owner’s manual, tamper and 2 color cookbooks 72 oz pitcher with lid, motor base, 6 blade assembly, two 16oz. single serve cups with to-go lids, Nutri Ninja blade assembly, owner’s manual and a recipe booklet.   
Crushed ice Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Smoothies Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Baby food Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Puree Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Hot soup (due to friction) Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Sauce Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Ice cream Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Nut butter Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Mill grains / powder Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Mix batter Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Knead dough Yes Yes Yes Yes No

* as of 15th March 2018 / subject to change

† plug type & electrical ratings are for USA

‡ size in inches

§ per user manual. Subject to change at the discretion of the manufacturer

Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender Review (Classic G Series)


Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender Review

Since William Barnard demonstrated how the Vitamix blender can make everyone to eat healthy with his first infomercials in 1949, Vitamix from USA has never looked back.

It is one of the most renowned and top-notch brands available today and most sought after by fine dining restaurants to biggest restaurant chains.

The heavy-duty Vitamix you see today is a result from years of research & trials and made to last with quality which could make a great impact in your daily routine.

It comes with one of the most powerful motors with 2.2 peak horsepower/1440 watts giving a 37,000 RPM (approx.). The other noticeable factors are the wide base with a tip to tip blade length of 4 inches!

The blades can rotate so fast when it’s on hot soup mode, where it creates friction heat giving you those sizzling & steaming hot soups to your delight!  

Another major difference of this model when compared to the Vitamix 5200 is the shorter pitcher with no compromise in volume. The shortened height takes less space and gives you more convenience to store under a cabinet on the countertop.

The manufacturer claims the solid stainless steel blades to be of aircraft-grade and a lot of attention to detail has gone into it in designing to give you that refreshing & invigorating smoothie to brighten your morning.

When it comes to controls & functions, it has variable speed control, preset modes, and the pulse switch.

The preset modes are:

  1. Smoothies
  2. Hot soups
  3. Frozen desserts
  4. Purees
  5. Self-cleaning.

The variable speed control has speed settings of 1-10 giving you a lot of flexibility to adjust speed and achieve a variety of textures & consistencies.The knob can also be rotated at any point during the blend, so you have complete control.

The beauty about the preset functions is that you can just set it and forget while attending to another kitchen task saving your time & electricity (with no excessive blending).

Vitamix 750 jar is made with BPA-free, impact-resistant, Eastman Tritan™ copolyester high-quality food grade plastic [1].

If there is any quibble about the product, that would be the high price tag. But then you get what you pay for and this being a standard setter and an industry leader the price is something you pay for superior performance, quality, and durability.

The blender comes with a getting started guide, user manual, DVD, cookbook, and a low-profile tamper. The tamper can be used even while the blender is running to make sure everything hits the blades. The cookbook is specific to this model which takes into account the preset programs.

As far as the noise is concerned it is relatively low considering the high motor power if you measure it in decibels, but have moderate expectations in this regard.

The 7-year full warranty shows a brand that backs durability & quality of the product. It covers all parts, performance, labor, and obligingly two-way shipping.*

Pros and Cons–Vitamix Professional Series 750

Pros

  • A preferred brand by popular restaurant chains and for commercial purposes (we’re talking about the brand in general, and this particular model is for household use only)
  • Positive consumer reviews
  • The 7-year full warranty which shows the durability & quality. It includes two-way shipping as well*
  • Powerful commercial grade motor with 2.2 horsepower/1440 watts (commercial grade means in terms of power, but not meant for commercial blending since the robust cooling elements of commercial purpose blenders are absent)
  • Ease of use with straight-forward controls
  • 5 pre-programmed settings for convenience, consistent results, saving time and electricity. Machine decides the speed & time for optimal blending.
  • The versatility: smoothies, crushed ice, hot soups, sauces, baby food, purees, vegan ice cream, nut butter, grinding, mixing batters, or even make doughs.   
  • 1-10 speed setting for total flexibility of blending speed to achieve different consistencies & textures
  • Ability to process large batches
  • Pulse function for better pulverization
  • Self-cleaning function
  • BPA-free, impact-resistant, high-quality food grade Tritan™ plastic container [1]
  • Includes a free tamper whenever you require to make sure everything hits the blades
  • 2-piece spill proof lid for adding ingredients and to use the tamper while blending
  • Easy fixation of the jar to the base with no twisting or locking
  • Stainless steel wide blade assembly
  • Low-profile container taking less space
  • Thermal protection system for auto shut-off when overheated
  • Lengthy plug cord with 6 feet
  • Free cookbook

Cons

  • High price
  • Relatively expensive accessories (high quality)
  • Control panel can be slightly difficult to clean as opposed to a flat control panel
  • Limited color options
  • No digital display for showing blending time, etc.

*Refer warranty terms & conditions

Accessories

Convert your full-size Vitamix® machine into a personal blender with this personal cup adapter

Vitamix machine into a personal blenderVitamix personal blender cup

Legacy Series Tamper Holder

Vitamix Legacy Series Tamper Holder

32-ounce Dry Grains Container

Vitamix 32-ounce Dry Grains Container

Vitamix 5200 Blender Review


Vitamix 5200 Blender Review

There is a substantial price difference between the 750 and the 5200 which is due to non-availability of the preset modes, pulse, and lesser motor power.  

Compared to the 750 model this has a taller jar with slightly a smaller base with the same volume. The 5200 blending pattern seems to have a shade of difference with its clear blending vortex compared to the 750. This is probably due to the tall & narrow jar though the 750 seems to have an edge when it comes to pulverizing and ripping everything apart.   

Irrespective of the blending patterns any difference in the final result is hardly noticeable and if anything, that could be a faint difference in the color & texture.  

The 5200 comes with a powerful motor with 2 peak horsepower which is marginally lower than the 750 power output and it has a base with a blade assembly of 3 inches wide, tip to tip length.

The jar is made with BPA-free, impact-resistant Eastman Tritan™ copolyester high-quality food grade plastic [1]. There is no pulse function in this model though you can set it to 10 high and turn on & off to create the pulse effect.

Just like the 750, the tamper can be used while the blender is running to make sure everything hits the blades. Unlike the 750 this model doesn’t have a self-cleaning function though you can still clean the jar easily with some warm water and a dash of liquid dishwashing detergent using variable speed in about 30-60 seconds.  

Vitamix gives a 7-year warranty for the 5200 which shows the durability & quality of the product. Just as the 750 it covers all parts, performance, labor, and two-way shipping.*

Pros and Cons–Vitamix Professional Series 5200

Pros

  • Low price compared to Vitamix 750
  • A preferred brand by popular restaurant chains and for commercial purposes (we’re talking about the general brand, and this particular model is for household use only)
  • 7-year full warranty* which shows the durability & quality
  • Positive consumer reviews
  • Powerful commercial grade motor with 2 peak horsepower / 1380 watts (commercial grade means in terms of power, but not meant for commercial blending since the robust cooling elements of commercial purpose blenders are absent)
  • The versatility: smoothies, crushed ice, hot soups, sauces, baby food, purees, vegan ice cream, nut butter, grinding, mixing batters, or even make doughs.
  • Ease of use with simple controls
  • 1-10 speed setting for total flexibility of blending speed to achieve different consistencies & texture
  • Ability to process large batches
  • BPA-free, impact-resistant, high-quality food grade Tritan™ plastic container [1]
  • Includes a free tamper whenever you require to make sure everything hits the blades
  • 2-piece spill proof lid for adding ingredients and to use the tamper while blending
  • Easy fixation of the jar to the base with no twisting or locking
  • Thermal protection system for auto shut-off when overheated
  • Lengthy plug cord with 6 feet

Cons

  • Pricey compared to low priced competing blenders in the same class
  • No preset programs
  • No pulse function
  • Can take up more space (tall jar)
  • Relatively expensive accessories (high quality)
  • Control panel can be slightly difficult to clean as opposed to a flat control panel
  • Limited color options
  • No digital display for showing blending time, etc.

*Refer warranty terms & conditions

Blendtec Designer Series Blender (625) with WildSide Jar Review


Blendtec Designer Series Blender (625) with WildSide Jar Review

If you’re one of those tech junkies or design & aesthetics are top priorities who loves uniqueness a machine can provide besides its core task, then this USA made blender may be the one you’re looking for.

It seems like Blendtec is doing everything different to what other blenders do taking blending either into a whole new paradigm or making a mockery of competing blenders.

Blendtec uses dull blades as opposed to sharp blades, it has five sides jar instead of standard 4 sides jars, blades apparently rotate clockwise instead of counter-clockwise, it uses a two-pronged wingtip blade assembly instead of the standard 4 pronged version, doesn’t believe in using a tamper, and if they literally attempt to blend other blenders, we wouldn’t be surprised.

At the end of the day, the million dollar question is, does Blendtec get the core task done which is blending and blending a variety of foods effectively & efficiently. The answer is a resounding yes, backed by many positive consumer reviews. Blendtec has been in business since 1975 and with such a long history it is only fair to expect a perfected machine.         

Blendtec has the most powerful motor compared to its competing blenders in this review which comes with a 3 peak horsepower  / 1,560 watts motor which gives a 29,000 RPM (approx.).

The Blendtec comes with an illuminated capacitive touch control surface which includes preset programming such as batter, crushed ice, smoothie, ice cream, whole juice, hot soup, pulse and manual speed control as well. Besides these functions, it can do nut butter, grinding, and knead dough as well.

Not only it tells you just how long to wait until your blend is done but it also keeps a track of your usage telling you how many blend cycles you’ve done (1,9, 99…999…9999, etc.) which shows how well it has lasted.

There is also a cavitation warning which indicates on any air pockets formed around the blades which prevent optimum blending. Below you can find out the details on display icons.

Hover over the image to zoom

Blendtec Designer Series Blender (625) Details on Display Icons

The blade assembly is made with stainless steel, which is wide, thick & blunt doing a great job of blending and there is no worry of sharpening the blades or having the risk of cutting yourself. These blades can also have higher durability if you’re planning to do a lot of grinding.

The patented Wildside jar design is also one of the most unique jar designs you will find due to its 5 sides instead of regular 4 sides which enable tamper-free blending.

The caveat is though, you must learn & get a feel as to how the machine blends different types of food and different volumes since you’re not using a tamper. This though may have a learning curve and you may get better with experience. If you follow their recipe book that would help a lot. Once you learn how to blend without a tamper that will add a lot of convenience!

Jar is made with BPA-free, impact-resistant Tritan™ [1] copolyester food grade plastic. Inside it has extra ridges as well to give it a good mix and blend better. All types of Blendtec consumer jars work perfectly with all Blendtec motor bases, thus you can mix & match according to your needs!

The lid has two parts where the middle lid is vented (to release the steam when making hot soup, etc.) and can be popped out easily to add more stuff to blend.  

Though Blendtec has no prest self-cleaning mode, cleaning is a breeze where you just have to add dish soap and hot water to the jar and press the pulse button for 5 seconds. The jar is dishwasher safe as well.

Another plus with Blendtec is that it will fit under most cabinets on the countertop taking less space when you consider the size.

Just like Vitamix, Blendtec comes with a 7-year warranty which is proof of quality and durability of the product.

Besides the blender, you can expect a recipe book with more than 230 great tasting recipes!

Pros and Cons–Blendtec Designer Series (625)

Pros

  • Aesthetic appeal & simple to use thanks to the flat control panel which comes with digital display (including vivid icons) & touch control.
  • Lower price compared to Vitamix.
  • One of the most powerful commercial grade motors compared to its counterparts with 3 peak horsepower / 1,560 watts to blend virtually anything. (commercial grade means in terms of power, but not meant for commercial blending since the robust cooling elements of commercial purpose blenders are absent)
  • A preferred brand by popular restaurant chains and for commercial purposes (we’re talking about the general brand, and this particular model is for household use only)
  • 7-year warranty which is proof of quality and durability.
  • Positive consumer reviews
  • 6 pre-programmed settings for convenience, consistent results, saving time and electricity. Machine decides the speed & time for optimal blending
  • The versatility: smoothies, crushed ice, hot soups, sauces, baby food, purees, vegan ice cream, nut butter, grinding, mixing batters, or even make doughs.  
  • Choose between 8 speeds to have complete control, flexibility and achieve different consistencies & textures.
  • BPA-free, impact-resistant, high-quality food grade Tritan™ plastic container [1]
  • Easy fixation of the jar to the base with no twisting or locking
  • Two-pronged ultra-hard stainless steel cold-forged wingtip blades. The manufacturer claims the blades to be 80% thicker and 10x stronger than other blades
  • 2-piece lid for ease of adding ingredients and the middle lid is vented (to release steam for hot soups, etc.)
  • Pulse function for better pulverization
  • Ability to process large batches
  • No requirement to use a tamper (if you learn how the machine blends different types of food & quantities)
  • Taking less space compared to other blenders considering the dimensions
  • Easy to clean the base due to flat control panel
  • Blunt blades mean no worries of sharpening the blades or replacing due to dullness. It also has a low risk of injury and much easier to clean if hand washing it.
  • Dishwasher safe and can have self-cleaning with pulse option.
  • There is temperature icon on display to indicate overheat and has auto shut-off for damage prevention due to heat.
  • Free recipe book with more than 230 recipes

Cons

  • Since no tamper, it may take some time to learn to get the best blending results with different food types & volumes.
  • Expensive than the low priced competing blenders
  • Fairly expensive accessories (high quality)
  • Noise can be relatively higher due to higher motor power.
  • Capacitive touch control panel means there can be sensory/responsive issues which may hinder the operation of the blender
  • Limited color options

Accessories

Blendtec GO™ travel bottle to convert your Blendtec into personal blending

Blendtec GO™ travel bottle for personal blending

Blendtec Twister Jar

Blendtec Twister Jar

Blendtec Fourside Jar

Blendtec Fourside Jar

Oster Versa Pro Series Blender with Low Profile Jar (BLSTVB-RV0-000) Review


Oster Versa Pro Series Blender with Low Profile Jar (BLSTVB-RV0-000)

Oster which was known as Osterizer in 1946 is one of the pioneering brands to supply blenders commercially. Supplying blenders for nearly 71 years Oster is a prominent brand which has stood the test of time.

It is made in China and comes with a 7-year warranty which assures quality and durability of the product!

The blade assembly comes with a great blade drive system known as the Duralast™ All-Metal Drive which is tested to blend up to 10,000 smoothies backed by a 10-year warranty!

It also boasts a powerful 1400 watt motor and a stainless-steel blade that has a 28,000 RPM (approx.) to blend effortlessly and efficiently.

The control panel comes with variable speed dial to instantly adjust speed, has preset functions such as smoothies, soups, dips/spreads and a pulse mode.

Though you see only three preset functions on the control panel, this is a multi-functional blender. It can make crushed ice, smoothies, hot soups, churn vegan ice cream, grind grains (make powder) and even knead dough.

The lid has two parts where the middle part can be opened separately for adding anything extra or to use the tamper which comes as a standard with the blender.

The 6 point star blade is sharp therefore be cautious when you’re handling it.

The blender comes with owner’s manual, tamper and 2 colored cookbooks with over 130 recipes to inspire!

Considering the brand, relatively low price, warranty period and the variety of tasks this blender can handle, it’s only fair to say, that it gives a great bang for your buck!

Pros and Cons–Oster Versa Pro Series

Pros

  • Moderate price
  • 7-year warranty
  • Powerful commercial grade motor with 1400 watts to blend virtually anything (commercial grade means in terms of power, but not meant for commercial blending since the robust cooling elements of commercial purpose blenders are absent)
  • Stainless steel blades with all metal drive
  • The versatility: smoothies, crushed ice, hot soups, sauces, baby food, purees, vegan ice cream, nut butter, grinding, mixing batters, or even make doughs
  • Ease of use with straight-forward control panels
  • Preset functions: smoothies, dips/spreads, and hot soup
  • Pulse function for better pulverization
  • Ability to process large batches
  • Includes a free tamper whenever you require to make sure everything hits the blades.
  • BPA-free, impact-resistant Tritan™ food grade plastic container [1]
  • Easy fixation of the jar to the base with no twisting or locking
  • Auto shut-off when overheated
  • Self-cleaning is possible with the speed dial
  • Low profile jar is good enough to fit under most cabinets
  • 2 colored cookbooks with over 130 recipes

Cons

  • Relatively lower consumer ratings compared to other competing blenders
  • No digital display
  • Variable speed is relatively limited which has only three settings compared to other blenders with more speed settings, thus reducing flexibility and ability to achieve various consistencies and textures
  • Not many accessories which are compatible
  • Low length plug cord: 1.3 feet
  • Limited color options
  • Noise can be relatively higher due to higher motor power

Ninja Professional Blender with Nutri Ninja Cups (BL660) Review


Ninja Professional Blender with Nutri Ninja Cups (BL660)

The first impression we get when we see the Ninja is like a two in one machine which mostly has traits of a blender yet due to the way its blades are designed it tends to look like a food processor as well and even capable of a few tasks like chopping & mincing a food processor does.

The downside to this is that it may not do certain blending tasks efficiently & effectively. For instance, it’s unable to create friction heat to produce steaming hot soups as do other blenders in this review.

Also if you’re using the same standard jar for nut butter, vegan ice cream, sauce, and grinding you may not get optimum texture & consistency. Kneading dough is impossible considering the blade design as well.

Having said that, blending a little longer (without overheating the motor!) or by using the single serve cups may get you better results for certain food types. If you need to make batter or dough you can consider purchasing a Ninja dough blade.   

Ninja Professional Blender is made in China and comes with a one-year limited warranty. The company SharkNinja Operating LLC started in 1995 in Canada and now operates in USA.

Price is the lowest compared to other blenders and if you can be content with the number of tasks it does and master its blending patterns it can give you satisfactory results for the price you pay! It seems there are many satisfied consumers considering the substantial amount of positive reviews this blender has.  

The motor is powered with 1100 watts and the control panel comes with 3-speed settings, single serve mode, and a pulse button. The pitcher contains 72 ounces and the blender is about 17 inches tall which can fit under most cabinets

Another advantage for the price you pay is that it comes with two 16 oz. Nutri Ninja Cups with lids which add more convenience for personal blending of smoothies and fruit juices.

Blade assembly is made with Ninja® Blade Technology with a shaft through the center of the jar consists of six multiple stainless steel blades.

The lid has a pour spout and the motor will not turn on until the lid is secured properly as a safety feature. To fix the container to the base you need to place it on the base and twist until you hear a click sound. The base comes with rubber suction cups which create a firm grip on the counter.

The blades in the Ninja are quite sharp, so be cautious if you were to clean those by hand. The container and the blades are dishwasher safe.

The box comes with the 72oz pitcher with lid, motor base, 6 blades assembly, two 16oz. single serve cups with to-go lids, Nutri Ninja blade assembly for the single serving, owner’s manual and a recipe booklet.

Pros and Cons–Ninja Professional (BL660)

Pros

  • Lowest price compared to other blenders in this review
  • Positive consumer rating with a high number of reviews
  • Powerful motor with 1100 watts
  • Ease of use with straight-forward controls
  • Pulse function for better pulverization
  • Stainless steel blades
  • The jar is made of BPA free plastic
  • Two 16 oz. BPA free Nutri Ninja Cups with To-Go Lids & blade assembly which convert to a personal blender
  • Many low priced compatible accessories  
  • The lid has a safety feature where the motor will not turn on until the lid is secured properly
  • Auto shut-off when overheated
  • Considering the height should fit under most cabinets
  • Dishwasher safe jar and blade assembly
  • Easy-to-Clean base with flat control panel

Cons

  • One year warranty compared to longer warranty periods of other blenders in this review
  • No pre-programmed settings except for single serve option
  • Lacking versatility in tasks like making hot soup, churning vegan ice cream, grinding, mix batters, and kneading dough
  • Lack of speed settings compared to other blenders, reducing blending speed flexibility to achieve a variety of consistencies and textures. Ninja has only a three-speed setting
  • Lacks optimum texture & consistency produced by other pricey blenders
  • Inability to process large batches due to the shaft positioned through the center of the jar with six multiple blades
  • No digital display
  • No self-cleaning function
  • No tamper
  • Removing the lid can be irritating as you need to press a release button and lift the handle to release it
  • Limited color options
  • Fixation of the jar to the base requires an effort for twisting and locking
  • Need more accessories to add versatility

General Do’s & Don’ts When Using a Blender


General Do’s & Don’ts When Using a Blender

 

 

 

 

Do’s

  • Always make sure to read the owner’s manual provided by the manufacturer and follow the instructions for safety and long-term use
  • Register your blender with the manufacturer
  • Clean your machine before the first use. It’s always good to run a cup of water through your new machine before you use it to dislodge any stuff that might have settled in during the manufacturing process
  • Blender blades can be quite sharp which can cause injury if you were to use your hands for cleaning. Handle with care!
  • Unplug from outlet when not in use, before putting on or taking off parts, and before cleaning
  • Always operate blender with the lid firmly in place. The lid plug should be removed only when adding ingredients or when using the tamper
  • When blending hot fluids, be cautious, since escaping steam may cause burns. Keep your hands and face away from the opening to prevent injury
  • Make sure to keep children under supervision when they use or are nearby the blender

Don’ts

  • Though modern blenders can do many tasks performed by food processors it would not be advisable to consider it as a complete replacement as certain tasks like slicing vegetables or shredding vegan cheese or other vegetables uniformly cannot be done by a blender
  • If the blender has an electrical rating of 110 V then never use it on a 230 V outlet vice versa, which can damage the motor. You may use transformers & adopters at your own risk, but that may not cover the warranty. The Amazon buy links in this review take you to your local Amazon site (e.g. www.amazon.co.uk) which may have products manufactured with a relevant electrical rating for your region
  • Do not operate with a damaged cord or plug
  • When making nut butter, oil-based foods or anything similar, try to limit blending for less than one minute. Blending for extended periods may cause dangerous overheating
  • Do not use extension cords
  • Leaving the appliance unattended while it is running is not recommended
  • Do not blend for more than the specified time limits by the manufacturer and if you smell any burns switch off the machine, take the food out, remove the jar and inform the manufacturer
  • Do not put more food than the given jar measurements (unless the jar measurements indicate half the capacity) leaving enough space to blend

Conclusion


We hope this review helped you to understand all the aspects of using a blender and its usefulness in your daily routine preparing vegan meals. No doubt, Vitamix & Blendtec brands are held in high regard among the experts and these are the most sought-after brands by commercial & household quality conscious consumers.

Still, if you look closely and analyze the details we provided, you may realize there are other blenders that can provide great value for money as well.

It boils down to your personal needs, priorities, budget, and any other recipe requirements. We hope you now have everything you need to know to realize what you’re paying for and make an excellent buying decision!

Best Multi-Purpose Specialty Blenders Review

Related Posts:

Best Bread Makers Review 2018 (Top Choice by Consumers)

 

References

[1] http://www.eastman.com/Markets/Tritan_Safe/Pages/Attributes.aspx

Filed Under: Blenders, Reviews Tagged With: blenders, kitchen appliances, multi-purpose specialty blenders review, reviews

Vegan Meat Brands Review—40 Plus Substitutes for Beef, Pork, Chicken, etc.!

December 7, 2017 By Dishan Mendis Leave a Comment

The Vegan Meat Brands Review to Substitute Beef, Pork, Chicken, etc. — 40 Plus Products!

In this vegan meat brands review, we present you some of the most popular vegan meat substitutes to give you as many options as possible for beef, pork, chicken, turkey, etc. and shows consumer ratings while discussing taste, texture, quality, nutrition, and a few dishes you can try them with.

They are either non-processed whole foods or processed plant-based faux meat. We will show you what goes into processed vegan meat substitutes so that you know in advance what you’re buying. Some of these products may contain soy and gluten while others don’t.

If you’re not one of those rare vegans who never liked meat or never eaten meat before then these cruelty-free, eco-friendly plant-based vegan meat substitutes are ideal when you crave for something vegan and meaty!

These meat substitutes can also come in handy when you’re looking to add some variety to your diet and when your loved ones or guests need a special treat. Such treats can show your non-vegan friends the kind of variations vegan menus can have.

Scroll down to be amazed by more than 40 vegan meat substitutes!

Note:

Since these are substitutes for regular meat products, we may have compared vegan meat to its meat counterparts from the faintish memories we have when we were omnis. Our intention was to be as detailed as possible (since some vegan meat products produced to resemble the taste of certain types of meat) but never to glorify meat in any shape or form.

Mushroom Brands Review


Native Forest Organic Sliced Crimini Mushrooms Review

Native Forest Organic Sliced Crimini Mushrooms Review

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (from 85 consumer ratings)

Crimini mushrooms also known as cremini, baby bella or Italian mushroom are coming from the same family of button mushrooms, thus making it a good substitute for button mushrooms. We feel crimini mushrooms provide something from both worlds of white button mushrooms and portobello mushroom to a degree as it’s in the middle state of maturity between the aforementioned varieties.

Native Forest Organic Sliced Crimini Mushrooms are made in USA and it is certified organic, kosher certified and gluten-free. There is nothing to be done on your part as it is ready to be served. You can drain and rinse the mushrooms to get rid of sodium.

Unlike in some canned foods, there was no metal taste in these mushrooms. They are delicious with nice fresh taste and add wonderful flavor to any recipe you might make with them.

The great thing about this product is its convenience in adding them to recipes. These tender and delicious mushrooms will be a lovely addition to soups, pizzas, stir-fries, pasta, stews, salads, sauces or any other recipe you see fit.

Ingredients: organic crimini mushrooms, water, sea salt

Other Mushroom Brands:

a) Roland Whole Mushrooms

Roland Whole Mushrooms

b) Giorgio Organic Sliced Mushrooms

c) Mushroom House Dried Oyster Mushrooms

Mushroom House Dried Oyster Mushrooms

Jackfruit Meat Substitutes Review


Aroy-D Young Green Jackfruit in Brine Review

 Aroy-D Young Green Jackfruit in Brine Review

Rating: 7.9/10 (from 123 ratings)

Manufactured in Thailand by Thai Agri Food Plc, it is no surprise as Thailand is one of the biggest producers of this largest tree-borne fruit. Don’t be fooled that it’s called a ‘fruit’ as this is one of the most versatile foods whether you want to make it like pulled pork, meaty savory curries, tacos, tortillas, vegan BBQ or consume as a sweet juicy fruit (ripened jackfruit).

Thai Agri Food Plc is a well-known manufacturer supplying food over 3 decades and has many quality standards in place (BRC, ISO, and UKAS) to ensure product quality.

The thing we like about jackfruit is, it doesn’t have any major taste of its own, but you can make jackfruit, the jack of all taste by seasoning it or mixing it with whatever you want as it absorbs other flavors really well. Considering the amount of work you have to do if you were to prepare it from a whole jackfruit, this is a breeze, preparing it so easily straight out of the can.

We recommend rinsing it well before using it. It took about 10 minutes to cook up and make jackfruit pulled pork. We added onions, green peppers, garlic and BBQ sauce and it tasted great! We love what a meaty* feeling you can get out of it and how it leaves you feeling full and satisfied!

In terms of nutrition only 40 calories per serving, so certainly no weight gain there while providing fiber, iron, potassium, carbs, vitamin B-6, magnesium and a bit of calcium & protein making it a healthy vegan meat alternative. No cholesterol, trans fat, GMO*, soy, and gluten. To compensate for the lack of protein you can consider combining it with protein-rich beans or nuts.

Ingredients: young green jackfruit (50 percent), water, salt, and citric acid (e330).

*GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms

Essentials Organic Jackfruit in Salted Water Review

Essentials Organic Jackfruit in Salted Water Review

Ratings: 9.4/10 (from 17 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? Yes

TheVeganKind (delivery: UK & international)

Again another Jack of all taste which we highly recommend! It is a fantastic organic meat alternative without being a processed faux meat substitute. Whether you want it like pulled pork, with pasta, wraps, tacos, burritos, and buns or any other recipe you fancy, this will do the job.

Essential Trading is one of the largest worker co-operatives in the UK, owned and operated entirely by its workers. With a particular interest in provenance and sustainability, they collaborate with producers out there to ensure all of the foods they pack are pure, healthy, and ethically sourced and grown organically by farmers in Sri Lanka.

Provides 86 calories per serving (100g), fiber, iron, potassium, carbs, vitamin B-6, magnesium and a bit of calcium & protein making it a healthy vegan meat alternative. Further, it is free of cholesterol, trans fat, GMO*, soy, and gluten. To compensate for the lack of protein you can consider combining it with protein-rich beans or nuts.

INGREDIENTS: young jackfruit (organic), water, sea salt, lime juice (organic).

*GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms

Tofu Brands Review


Before getting into this vegan staple it’s always good to know its varieties and relevant uses. Though there can be more varieties, to simplify things there are four main varieties: soft, firm, extra firm which are regular tofu and then you have silken.

Tofu Brands Review - Silken tofu
Silken tofu

Silken tofu has a texture, well as the name says, smooth as silk like fine custard. It is undrained, unpressed and has the highest water content. All silken tofu is more delicate than regular firm tofu. Silken tofu works well in creamy and blended foods like smoothies, desserts, puddings, salad dressings, sauces, and dips. It can also be used as an egg substitute in baking.

Regular tofu, on the other hand, is pressed and has somewhat of a spongy texture. Tofu is dense and spongy and you can sometimes see a lightly imprinted pattern on its surface from the cloth used to press it. It can be sold as soft, medium, firm, or extra-firm, but these are quite sturdy.

Regular Tofu
Regular Tofu

The regular soft is a little more compact than silken but is softer compared to it’s firmer versions. Regular soft tofu easily soaks up the flavors of sauces and broths, thus it is often used in noodle soups and stews. Using it, you can make delicious spreads, or ‘scrambled’ tofu, a vegan take on scrambled eggs. If you pan-fry or deep-fry regular soft tofu it is likely to crumble.

Firm tofu is the most widely available and most versatile of the tofu types. Firm tofu doesn’t crumble, absorbs flavors well and can be used as a close substitute for cheese as well. It can also be fried in many ways as well, use in stews, filling or make spreads

Extra-firm tofu has less water than firm tofu, but the culinary possibilities of firm and extra-firm are almost the same, though extra-firm tofu doesn’t absorb marinades as well. On the other hand, extra-firm is much easier to fry. Firm or extra firm, it is best used in tofu stir-fry recipes, baking or any dish where you will want the tofu to retain its shape.

Mori-Nu Silken Tofu, Extra Firm Review

Mori-Nu Silken Tofu, Extra Firm Review 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (from 88 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

Do note that this is silken tofu and not regular tofu. Mori-Nu silken tofu is made in USA with Non-GMO* soy manufactured by Pacific Nutritional Foods, Inc. (PNF), a subsidiary of Morinaga Nutritional Foods which supplies products since 1972.

We tested the extra firm version. It is firm enough to stir-fry, sautéing, and baking. The texture is, of course, silken and has a nice consistency, yet stays firm when cooking. You may use it for thicker sauces, soups, salads as well as entrées. It goes well with spices and very filling as silken extra firm comes with higher protein content.

Mori-Nu silken tofu is certified gluten-free, Non-GMO* Project verified and no preservatives added. Since it is packed in aseptic packaging (protects from bacteria, light and air without the use of preservatives which can last a year), it does not have to be refrigerated until it is opened. This allows you to store a few leaving more space in your refrigerator. Packaging is totally reliable as once it is opened, it tastes almost as good as fresh tofu.

Tofu is a great source of protein, and provides 50 calories per serving, calcium, iron, carbs and is low fat (heart healthy) with no cholesterol, and trans fat.

Ingredients: water, soybeans, isolated soy protein, gluconolactone (a non-dairy coagulant derived from food starch), calcium chloride.

*GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms

Other Tofu Varieties

a) Mori-Nu Organic Silken Tofu, Firm

Mori-Nu Organic Silken Tofu, Firm

b) Mori-Nu Silken Tofu, Soft

Mori-Nu Silken Tofu, Soft

Clearspot Organic Tofu

Clearspot Organic Tofu

TheVeganKind  (delivery: UK & international)

Tempeh Brands Review


Tempeh Starter Culture Review

Tempeh Starter Culture Review

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (from 56 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

Tempeh is a fermented vegan protein food (like blue cheese) originated in Indonesia and considered one of the healthiest vegan meat substitutes. Again like tofu, tempeh absorbs any seasoning or marination well, proving versatility.

This DIY tempeh is made in USA which comes with easy directions to make your own homemade healthy tempeh and it is Non-GMO* and gluten-free. This is only the tempeh starter, so it does not include the soybeans and you have to purchase the soybeans separately.

Once the tempeh was made it had a much firmer texture than tofu yet tender enough to easily cut into pieces of bean cakes. Everything tastes better when it’s fresh and what more can be better than a homemade tempeh? It has a nice earthy and nutty taste to it and a trace of rich mushroom-like flavor.

We thought it will make a nice vegan bbq or a bacon imitation. You can bake, sauté, grill or steam to make a great meat alternative. It will go well with soups, salads or sandwiches. If you’re using it as a vegan bbq or a bacon imitation you may use bbq sauce to enhance its flavor.

Tempeh is rich in protein, potassium, carbohydrate, iron, vitamin B-6, magnesium and promotes healthy digestion. We do not recommend as a reliable source of vitamin B12 due to our doubts on its bioavailability and fulfillment of RDI†. Further, tempeh is free of cholesterol, MSG‡, preservative, GMO* and gluten.

Ingredients: rice, soy beans, rhizopus oryzae culture.

*GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms

† Recommended Daily Intake

‡ Monosodium glutamate

Tofurky Smoked Maple Bacon Tempeh Review

Tofurky Smoked Maple Bacon Tempeh Review

Rating: 4 out of 5 (from 29 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

TheVeganKind  (delivery: UK & international)

Made in USA by Tofurky which provides plant-based food products since 1980. Many turkeys would be grateful for this company for revolutionizing the Thanksgiving dinner table setting a new cruelty-free trend. Tofurky is a member of Plant-Based Foods Association.

So we pan fried just like regular bacon. It kind of tastes like bacon* while still being tempeh at heart, so to speak. It was crispy just like how you would expect from regular bacon* to be and has the smoky, savory, and salty flavor to it. The pieces with more searing certainly tasted much closer to bacon. You may use BBQ sauce to enhance its bacon flavor as well.

While it has done a fairly good job of trying to mimic bacon, we appreciated it more as another tempeh variety on its own. We felt it would go well with rice, pasta, BLTs† or salads. So if you have a bacon craving this is something that you can definitely try.

It is much healthier than bacon as well which is free of cholesterol and rich in protein while providing potassium, carbohydrates, iron, calcium, vitamin B-6, magnesium. Tempeh promotes healthy digestion due to fermentation & fiber to boot.

Ingredients: organic soybeans, water, shoyu soy sauce (water, non-GMO soybeans, wheat, salt, culture), molasses, maple syrup, natural smoke flavor, autolyzed yeast extract, salt, organic apple cider vinegar, starter culture (rhizopus oligosporus).

*We recall the taste when we were omnis

† Sandwich filled with bacon, lettuce, and tomato

Seitan Review


Bob’s Red Mill Vital Wheat Gluten Flour Review

Bob's Red Mill Vital Wheat Gluten Flour Review

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (from 555 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

TheVeganKind (delivery: UK & international)

Seitan, unlike soy & tempeh, is not a soy-based product which is a protein made with wheat gluten and has a mild taste and a chewy texture like meat. Since it’s much easier to season, seitan is a great substitute for meat. It works like a sponge absorbing the flavors of seasoning or broth so it works really well with stews.

The name Bob’s Red Mill is no stranger in the sphere of whole grain products and this employee-owned company has been supplying quality products for over three decades. When you buy this product, you don’t have to spend on expensive seitan products at the store and you get to make your homemade seitan which is reliable in terms of taste, health, and quality.

The gluten had a very fine consistency and was much easier to combine with other additions. It was so easy to tailor it, according to any flavor we fancy as the texture is not as rubbery compared to other gluten flour, making it extremely quick and easy to prepare.

With seitan, you can make meat substitutes for “chicken”, and “beef”. The other uses of seitan are working as a binder when making vegan burgers, vegan meatballs, and TVP vegan jerky. It can also improve the elasticity and texture adding more volume when baking bread.

It is Non-GMO*, rich in protein, and provides iron, carbs, calcium, dietary fiber while being free of cholesterol, trans fat, and sodium. 

Ingredients: gluten (wheat protein – Non-GMO*, water, soybean oil, soybean extract, salt, and sugar

*GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms

Companion – Peking Vegetarian Roast Duck Review

Companion - Peking Vegetarian Roast Duck Review

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (from 23 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

Imported from Taiwan this Non-GMO* wheat protein is a ready-made product by Companion Foods and they have been supplying products since 1959. You just have to heat and serve this flavorsome faux meat. It comes out of the can in large pieces which are quite flexible, and you can shred, tear, or chop in any way you want.

Now we’re not going to proclaim that it tastes like duck meat*, but it certainly tastes better than some chewy gluten products you would find. It has a meaty and tender consistency and has a texture or “skin” which resembles duck skin.

Further, the liquid in which it comes in has a savory, palatable, and Asian flavor. You can use this liquid or if you’re draining it you may use it for soups, or as gravy or stock for other recipes.

It is a very versatile product and can stir-fry, consume with fried rice, noodles, make vegan sushi, salads, appetizers, snacks and do much more.

Being a wheat protein it is a rich source of protein and provides iron and 83 calories per serving. Free of cholesterol, trans fat, preservatives, and artificial coloring.

*GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms

TVP – Textured Vegetable Protein Review (TSP – Textured Soy Protein)


Bob’s Red Mill Textured Vegetable Protein Review

Bob's Red Mill Textured Vegetable Protein Review

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (from 746 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

Textured or texturized vegetable protein (TVP) is also known as textured soy protein (TSP), soya mince, soy meat, or soya chunks. This is another vegan meat substitute that resembles meaty textures closely. This is made in USA coming from the popular whole grain product manufacturer, Bob’s Red Mill.

TVP is defatted (no fat weight-watchers, unlike meat!) soy flour which has been cooked under pressure and dehydrated. It is completely different to tofu or tempeh in terms of taste & texture and comes in the form of crumbles or chunks. It hardly has any soy taste in it and can easily be seasoned as it absorbs the flavors of your recipe really well. So the choice is yours to make it as fancy or as simple as you wish.

After doing rehydration, the flavor and consistency were excellent and tasted like ground beef.  To reconstitute you can add water and can use anything you fancy to enhance the flavor like soy sauce, BBQ sauce, spices, and vegan flavoring. Due to its ability to absorb flavors, to make the most out of it, do the seasoning or add more flavors as we have suggested. With that kind of preparation, you may fool many into believing that it’s ground beef or something like pork.

Being a very versatile product, it can be used as a thickener or add more protein in savory recipes or even in sweet recipes. Use it for pasta, lasagna, noodles, protein bars, cereals, cutlets or make vegan ground beef, vegan chicken, vegan chicken nuggets, burgers, vegan meatballs, tacos, chili, stew or soups.

While being an excellent source of complete protein which has all essential amino acids, Bob’s TVP is zero fat, zero cholesterol, and almost zero sodium. It is a good source of dietary fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, calcium and all that for only 80 calories to keep your weight in check! It is gluten-free, Kosher pareve and has a long shelf life.

Ingredients: Defatted Soy Flour.

Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), Hoosier Hill Farm Review

 Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), Hoosier Hill Farm Review

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (from 37 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

This Non-GMO* TVP is made in USA by Hoosier Hill Farm producing products since 1999.  It is made of domestic soybeans and shelf-stable. Do note that this TVP is a bit darker in color than other TVP due to the caramel color additive added to the product to give a closer look to meat burgers. The caramel coloring used in this TVP is Class IV Low 4MEI. Though caramel color is generally regarded as safe [1] [2], if you have an allergy or you avoid colas/soft drinks and other food products with caramel color you may want to avoid this product.

The taste of this TVP exceeded our expections, no doubt, and thought it would be perfect for meatballs, lasagna, spaghetti, hamburgers, chili or soups. It is also more finely ground which can be more useful in certain recipes.

Excellent source of protein and provides dietary fiber, iron, potassium, and calcium. Free of gluten, fat, cholesterol, and sodium.

Ingredients: Defatted soy flour.

*GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms

Natto Review


Japanese Dried Fermented Beans – Hoshi Natto Review

 Japanese Dried Fermented Beans - Hoshi Natto Review

Rating: 3.9 out of 5 (from 77 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

Natto the traditional Japanese fermented soy food which has been a diet for many years is one of the healthiest meaty alternatives you can find. Natto has a sticky slimy substance around it.

Some may call it stinky, foul or may not like its gooey consistency, but to put it politely we say it’s pungent and we have no problem with its smell, taste (umami) or consistency. We believe it’s a similar case to Marmite, how some people love or hate marmite or have an acquired taste.

This particular product can be eaten straight out of the package like a snack or you can make traditional natto by adding some water. Since the beans increase in volume once hydrated, you may first want to try it with a few beans to get an idea about the volume so that you can use it sparingly.

After giving it a good mix (mix it only with water before you add anything else to make it as slimy as possible), you can see the formation of that sticky substance and the strings that keep the beans sticky together. Then just top it onto your rice or anything that you prefer to eat it with.

By eating it with something like rice you can also minimize the taste of natto if you feel it’s too overpowering. For us, it was a refreshing experience to eat natto with rice, soy sauce, mustard and a bit of greens!

Natto is a great source of vitamin K2 (great for healthy bones), protein, dietary fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium, vitamin C, and rich in probiotics for healthy digestion. It is also free of cholesterol and low on fat.

Vegan Beef Brands Review


gardein™ Homestyle Beefless Tip Review

  gardein™ Homestyle Beefless Tip Review

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (from 295 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? Yes

gardein™ is a well known Canadian brand for providing meat substitutes for over 2 decades. To ensure quality, they have safe quality foods (sqf) audit program and the facilities are HACCP certified.

We just added a bit of water, coconut oil, onions, garlic, and sautéed it. After a few minutes added a bit of soy sauce as well. The aroma was so appetizing and after a few minutes, it was time to give it a go. It does look like beef no doubt and they have really done a good job of simulating the beef flavor. You may even fool others with this one into thinking it’s beef.

It can be seasoned in many other ways to get an alternate flavor and you may try it with rice, pasta, soups, tacos, etc. These beefless tips are a good source of protein, dietary fiber, and iron. It is also free of trans fat, and cholesterol.

Ingredients: water, vital wheat gluten*, soy protein isolate*, expeller pressed canola oil*, onions, yeast extract, methylcellulose, malted barley extract, onion powder, garlic powder, organic ancient grain flour (KAMUT® khorasan wheat, amaranth, millet, quinoa), organic cane sugar, white distilled vinegar, potato starch, sea salt, natural flavor (from plant sources), pea protein, spices, carrot fiber, beetroot fiber.

Rub: dehydrated vegetables (red bell pepper, garlic, onion), spices, organic cane sugar, salt, paprika powder. * Non genetically engineered soybeans, wheat, and canola.

Dixie Diners’ Club – Beef (Not!) Strips Review

Dixie Diners' Club - Beef (Not!) Strips Review

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (from 33 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

Made in USA by The Dixie Diners’ Club which has been providing food for 30 years. Considering the product taste without any seasoning or flavouring, it has quite a mild taste and made to absorb whatever the flavors you add to them. You can also enhance the flavor by adding one of their vegan seasonings  as well. So do note the key here is to get the seasoning right to make it palatable.

Do not expect them to taste exactly like beef, but they do have a meaty feel to it with its texture and consistency. The appearance is quite realistic as well and comparable to meat. You can use it for pasta, rice, casseroles, burritos, soups, chilis, etc. The taste blends well with the recipes.

Serves 140 calories per servings, rich in protein, dietary fiber and provides calcium, iron, potassium, isoflavones, including daidzein, glycitein, and genistein. It is also free of cholesterol, sugar, gluten while being low fat and low sodium.

Ingredients: soy flour, corn (trace).

Vegan Ground Beef Brands Review


gardein™ The Ultimate Beefless Ground Review

 gardein™ The Ultimate Beefless Ground Review

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (from 94 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? Yes

Made in Canada and another gardein™ product. It’s quite easy & quick to prepare. You may need to add more water depending on the quantity you prepare as it tends to absorb water really well. But don’t overdo it to make it mushy!

We thought it had a lighter consistency compared to ground beef which tends to be slightly firmer & heavier and had no greasiness to it which is a plus. The color was much like cooked ground beef, has a similar chewiness to it and tastes good. Nothing overpowering and we were pleased with the taste.

The product is rich in protein, dietary fiber and provides iron & calcium. Free of cholesterol, saturated fat, trans fat (87% less fat than regular ground beef) and gluten.

Ingredients: water, soy protein concentrate*, expeller pressed canola oil*, organic cane sugar, caramel color, yeast extract, sea salt, onion powder, garlic powder, natural flavors (from plant sources), spices. *Non genetically engineered soybeans and canola. Manufactured in a facility that also processes wheat products.

 

Beyond Meat Beef Beefy Crumble Review

Beyond Meat Beef Beefy Crumble Review

Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (from 59 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

This fully cooked product is made in USA and brought to you by Beyond Meat which is a very ambitious company as they call themselves the “future of protein”. They are on an aspiring mission to bring a change to the way we eat plant-based meat alternatives which have a positive impact on the animals, health, and sustainability. What is special about Beyond Meat is that they have done studies extensively on the protein architecture of real meat and infused that same architecture into plant-based protein to give the best simulation possible.

As we sniffed it, the smell was quite flavorful, spicy, though not how meat would smell exactly, but appetizing. So we sautéed to see how it goes. The texture and consistency are very close to what ground beef looks like. Took a small piece to taste and boy, it was very much like ground beef*.

You may get a hint of grainy feel as you chew it but no doubt that this is by far, one of the best meat alternatives that we’ve tried. No doubt, that this meat substitute can be used to fool even the most ardent carnivore. We’re so excited that we’ve tried this product and thought it would go well with macaroni, lasagna, spaghetti, bolognese, sloppy joes, tacos, nachos, soups or anything you fancy that would blend well.

You can get all the directions to make it on the back of the package and it’s really simple! Provides 80 calories per serving (1/2 cup), a good source of protein, provides iron, dietary fiber, calcium, and only half the fat of ground beef! Free of gluten, soy, saturated fat and trans fat.

*We recall the taste when we were omnis

Vegan Jerky Brands Review


Louisville Vegan Jerky Review

Louisville Vegan Jerky Review

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (from 630 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

Manufactured by Louisville Vegan Jerky Co. in USA with a story of humble beginnings, this product has its roots tied to an accidental discovery which turned out to be a pleasant one. You can read this story on the back of the package!

Today it is still close to its good old methods and made by hand in true artisan style with freshly sourced Kentucky ingredients. You also get to taste five flavors: Smoked Black Pepper, Smoked Chipotle, Sriracha Maple, Maple Bacon, and Carolina BBQ!

So first we tried the Smoked Black Pepper flavor. In terms of smell, it certainly smelled like jerky. The texture was really good, chewy, and fibrous. It was more like a soft jerky* than the hard ones. We definitely felt the pepper and savory taste of jerky.

Then we tried the maple bacon flavor. Wow, the smell was heavenly and smoky. Smokier than the black pepper and a slight bacon note as well. The texture was much similar to smoked black pepper. It was really flavorful where we felt like all those ingredients coming together and was so gratifying to our taste buds.

So, all in all, it was a great deal and we can easily give these a pass as vegan jerky. It’s a rich source of protein and provides iron, dietary fiber, and calcium. It’s free of gluten, GMO†, cholesterol, trans fat, and added sugar.

*We recall, when we were omnis

†GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms

 

Primal Strips Meatless Vegan Jerky Variety Gift Pack Sampler Review

 Primal Strips Meatless Vegan Jerky Variety Gift Pack Sampler Review

Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (from 934 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

TheVeganKind  (delivery: UK & international)

Each variety pack contains 6 flavors: Hickory Smoked, Texas BBQ, Teriyaki, Mesquite Lime, Thai Peanut, and Hot & Spicy

Hot & Spicy: Made of shiitake mushrooms and it had a different texture to it. It is a lot softer than jerky. The spiciness was not immediate but comes after a while, chewing it.

Texas BBQ: This is made of Soy. Quite moist, unlike jerky, still it has got the texture of beef jerky. Has a close resemblance to the taste of pork* while being chewy like how jerky suppose to be. Has its own sweet & sour flavor to it and we didn’t detect any soy taste which is a plus. This one we felt was the closest to being a jerky*, though we enjoyed the variety of other flavors.

Hickory Smoked: Made of Soy and it smelled good. This was kind of sweet and peppery.

Teriyaki: It is made of seitan and slightly moist. Faintly sweet but not a lot of flavor here and was like chewing something rubbery.

Thai Peanut: This is made of seitan and has peanut butter. This seemed to have a stale taste to it and not the best out of the pack.

Mesquite Lime: Made of seitan, but honestly, we didn’t enjoy this one.

So the verdict is, this is something you can use as a snack, and some flavors have a good taste of its own, but can’t say it’s right up there as a substitute for jerky*. Doesn’t have that salty taste you get out of jerky. Out of the 6 flavors Texas BBQ, Hot & Spicy, and Hickory Smoked were our favorites. This will be handy if you’re going on a trip, hiking, etc.

No preservatives, no artificial colors and Non-GMO† certified. It is a good snack for high energy, high protein with no cholesterol. Main ingredients are soy, seitan & shiitake mushroom.

*We recall the taste when we were omnis

† GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms

Vegan Burger/Patties Brands Review


Beef Flavors

gardein™  The Ultimate Beefless Burger Review    

gardein™  The Ultimate Beefless Burger Review

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (from 230 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? Yes

Again this is from gardein™ the well known Canadian brand for providing meat substitutes for over 2 decades. They have the safe quality foods (SQF) audit program, and the facilities are HACCP certified.

We fried it for like 3 minutes per each side on medium heat and on low heat for few more minutes flipping once and it smelled so good. No doubt it does look like a regular meat burger and there is no shrinking like with beef burgers. Put some mustard, ketchup, lettuce and a slice of vegan cheese with it in a bun, it’s heavenly. Tastes like a meat burger, it was real and has a very strong smoky taste to it.

Apparently, it has 65 percent less fat than a beef burger. 1 burger provides 140 calories, rich with proteins, dietary fiber, and provides iron and calcium. It is also free of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol.

Ingredients: water, soy protein concentrate*, vital wheat gluten*, expeller pressed canola oil*, onions, soy protein isolate*, methylcellulose, yeast extract, onion powder, malted barley extract, garlic powder, dehydrated garlic, organic cane sugar, natural flavor (from plant sources), organic ancient grain flour (KAMUT® khorasan wheat, amaranth, millet, quinoa), sea salt, potato starch, spices (contain celery seeds), white distilled vinegar, natural smoke flavor, spice extracts, pea protein, carrot fiber, beetroot fiber, molasses, wheat starch, soy lecithin. *Non genetically engineered soybeans, wheat and canola.

gardein™ Chipotle Black Bean Burger Review

gardein™ Chipotle Black Bean Burger Review 

Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (from 82 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? Yes

This chipotle seasoned black bean burgers are slow cooked and brought to you by gardein™ (Canadian) providing meat substitutes for over 2 decades. They have safe quality foods (SQF) audit program, and the facilities are HACCP certified.

This burger is a bit spicy and hot (just the instant sensation we got), so if you’re someone who enjoys spicy stuff then this is something to try! By the look of it, gives the impression of a compact burger like an all in one package which has a lot going on in there.

We had our burger with avocado, a slice of vegan cheese, lettuce, tomato, and it was chewy, crispy, and delectable! We also felt a generous amount of rice in it which we enjoyed and there is corn as well to boot!

Provides 150 calories per burger, a good source of protein, dietary fiber, carbs, and iron. Free of cholesterol, saturated fat, trans fat and gluten.

Ingredients: water, cooked black beans, cooked brown rice, vegetables (onion and corn*), expeller pressed canola oil*, roasted vegetables (corn*, red and green bell peppers) , soy protein concentrate*, tomato paste, potato starch, organic cane sugar, methylcellulose, sea salt, yeast extract, onion powder, spices, garlic powder, black bean powder, natural flavors (from plant sources), tomato powder, citric acid, lactic acid, instant coffee, molasses. *Non genetically engineered canola oil, corn, and soybeans. Manufactured in a facility that also processes wheat products.

Chicken Flavor

gardein™ Crispy Chick’n Sliders Mini Delights Review

gardein™ Crispy Chick'n Sliders Mini Delights Review

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (from 46 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? Yes

As we opened the package of sliders and buns, it smelled rich and flavorful and the sliders looked thick just as how they’ve shown it on the package. So the first impression is really good, hence we expected it to be delicious. We fried it per directions and had it with lettuce, tomato, a slice of vegan cheese and some mustard as usual.

Boy, gardein™ doesn’t disappoint us. It was delicious and crispy. Tasted like chicken nuggets resembling a McDonalds chicken burger*, really!

Crispy Chick’n Sliders Mini Delights are from gardein™ the well known Canadian brand for providing meat substitutes for over 2 decades. They have safe quality foods (SQF) audit program, and the facilities are HACCP certified.

Provides 180 calories per serving, with protein, carbs, and iron. Free of cholesterol, and trans fat as well.

Ingredients: water, soy protein isolate*, vital wheat gluten*, yeast extract, modified vegetable gum, organic ancient grain flour (KAMUT ® khorasan wheat, amaranth, millet, quinoa), expeller pressed canola oil*, natural flavors (from plant sources), sea salt, garlic powder, potato starch, organic cane sugar, onion powder, pea protein, carrot fiber, beetroot fiber, vinegar, color added, extractives of paprika and turmeric. breading: water, rice flour, wheat flour*, modified corn starch, wheat gluten*, sugar, salt, spice, garlic powder, onion powder, yeast, baking powder, malted barley flour, ascorbic acid. bun: enriched wheat flour* (wheat flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, cane sugar, yeast, vegetable shortening (contains soy), canola oil, salt, rye flour, bacterial

*We recall the taste when we were omnis

 

Kraft Boca Spicy Meatless Chicken Patty Review

Kraft Boca Spicy Meatless Chicken Patty Review

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (from 35 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

Not very spicy, but these patties do have some spicy flavoring which is palatable and they taste very much like chicken. Anyone who didn’t know that these are plant-based patties may think these are chicken patties! These Boca patties were delicious, filling and a kinder way to enjoy a chicken burger*.

Made of soy, it’s a perfect choice for those who want a healthier chicken patty alternative that tastes similar to traditional chicken burgers*.

50% less fat than chicken patties, 140 calories per serving, a rich source of protein, and provides carbs, dietary fiber, iron, and calcium. These are free of cholesterol as well.

Ingredients:

patty – water, soy protein concentrate, soy protein isolate, contains less than 2% of wheat gluten, yeast extract, methylcellulose, salt, spice (contains black pepper), natural flavor (non-meat), hydrolyzed soybean and corn protein, hydrolyzed corn gluten, onion powder, sugar, succinic acid, thiamine hydrochloride (vitamin b1).

batter – water, wheat flour, onion powder, vinegar powder (maltodextrin, vinegar solids), dried garlic, salt, spices, washed raw sugar, paprika, maltodextrin, gum acacia, corn, natural flavor (non-meat), malted barley, rye, extractives of paprika, citric acid.

breading – wheat flour, dextrose, salt, dried yeast, caramel color, yellow corn flour, extractives of paprika and annatto for color. browned in corn oil.

Boca Vegan Veggie Burgers / Boca Original Vegan Veggie Burgers Review

a) Boca Vegan Veggie Burgers

 Boca Vegan Veggie Burgers

b) Boca Original Vegan Veggie Burgers

Boca Original Vegan Veggie Burgers

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (from 1627 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

Note >>this offer may come with 2 packs of Oreos which have no animal products in the ingredients

Boca brand is a product of Kraft. For the review, we used the more popular Boca Original Vegan Veggie Burger product.

They look much lighter in color than a normal meat burger and has grill marks on one side. They have done a nice job of giving you that grilled flavor with some resemblance to the texture of a meat burger. It tastes more like a chicken patty* and has a nice chew to it with a crunchy crust. These burgers would certainly be a nice addition to a vegan BBQ!

70 calories per servings, and it’s really low in fat (no worries of weight gain!), free of cholesterol, saturated fat, and sugar. A rich source of protein and comes with carbs, dietary fiber, iron, and calcium.

Boca Vegan Veggie Burgers

Ingredients:  water, soy protein concentrate*, wheat gluten, contains less than 2% of dried onions, yeast extract, modified cellulose, salt, caramel color, natural flavor (non-meat), garlic powder, sesame oil.

Boca Original Vegan Veggie Burgers:

Ingredients: water, soy protein concentrate, wheat gluten, contains less than 2% of methylcellulose, salt, caramel color, dried onions, yeast extract, sesame oil, hydrolyzed wheat protein, natural and artificial flavor (non-meat), disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate.

 

Pork Flavor

Loma Linda Choplets Review

Loma Linda Choplets Review

Rating: 4 out of 5 (from 42 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

Made in USA and brought to you by Atlantic Natural Foods LLC which is SQF certified, and HACCP certified.  We drained it and dipped them in vegan bread crumbs to fry with a little oil and fried till browned and crispy on both sides. You may dip these in wholewheat flour, plain cornmeal or any seasoned flour which can flavor the choplets.

These choplets were quite chewy and we felt these work more like a pork substitute* and the taste was quite similar to pork chops*.  It is versatile and you can fry them, ground up to use for burgers, dice for salads and limited only by your imagination. You may use it with soups, pasta, noodles, rice, salads and the number of ways to cook this is endless.

These have 90 calories per serving, and it’s really low in fat (great for weight watchers!), free of cholesterol, saturated fat, trans fat. A rich source of protein and comes with dietary fiber too.

*We recall the taste when we were omnis

Vegan Hot dog/Sausage Brands Review


Field Roast Mexican Chipotle Sausage Review

Field Roast Mexican Chipotle Sausage Review  

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (from 57 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

Knowing what these guys are capable of having tried their vegan chao cheese, our expectations were high. Field Roast sausages are made in USA with traditional, old-country, sausage making practices and they don’t produce any non-vegan products, thus it’s fair to call them “a dedicated vegan producer”.

It definitely looked appetizing, flavorful and smelled good. So we sautéed it before we give it a go. Just cut it to see how it looks inside and it was sizzling and mouthwatering! Looks just like regular sausage and it does have a strong spicy taste, and quite hot, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying it. Do note though when you consume these with pasta, cheese, potatoes the spicy hotness can tone down.

If you like spicy and chipotle, we are quite sure you will like this. These simulated vegan sausages are quite big as well, thus considering the quality, size and taste it is a great deal and value for money.

You may even chop it and use it with a burrito or something similar. It was reassuring what a good brand Field Roast is in the sphere of vegan foods.  It was delicious, filling and we loved for trying an artisan vegan sausage with sizzle, texture, and personality!!

A rich source of protein, vitamin A and comes with carbs, calcium, and iron providing 230 calories per sausage. It is also low in fat being free of cholesterol, and trans fat. If you’re physically active then the sodium content shouldn’t be a problem either.

Ingredients: Vital wheat gluten, filtered water, expeller pressed safflower oil, onions, garlic, apple cider vinegar, yeast extract, chipotle peppers, onion powder, granulated garlic, brown sugar, sea salt, barley malt, spices, black pepper, paprika oleoresin, chili de arbol peppers, cumin and oregano.

Field Roast Smoked Apple Sage Sausage Review

Field Roast Smoked Apple Sage Sausage Review  

Rating: 4.1 out of 5 (from 74 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

These sausages are a savory combination which consists primarily of apples & sage with other additions like Yukon Gold potatoes with a subtle hint of hickory smoke. It smells really good and looks like regular sausages inside as well. We sautéed it and tried with some ketchup and mustard.

No fake taste and you can feel the apple & sage sweet flavors. It is quite heavy on the sage and that was the most prominent flavor, but it was meaty overall and as we chew it we can feel the nice, thick consistency of it. All in all, it was a fresh experience with a unique and an interesting flavor which we have never experienced.

While you can use it as a hot dog you may try it with pasta, or anything similar. Again just eating one sausage was filling, considering the size. So, yet another cracker of a product from the artisan producer Field Roast from USA.

These sausages are a rich source of protein, calcium and come with carbs, and iron providing 220 calories per sausage. It is also low in fat being free of cholesterol, and trans fat. If you’re physically active then the sodium content shouldn’t be a problem either.

Ingredients: filtered water, vital wheat gluten, expeller pressed safflower oil, unsulfured dried apples, yukon gold potatoes, yeast extract, onion powder, barley malt, garlic, natural hickory smoke flavor with torula yeast, spices, sea salt and rubbed sage.

Tofurky Bulk Italian Sausage Review

Tofurky Bulk Italian Sausage Review

Rating: 4 out of 5 (from 17 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

TheVeganKind (delivery: UK & international)

This is a product made in USA by Tofurky which provides plant-based food products since 1980. Many turkeys would be grateful for this company for revolutionizing the Thanksgiving dinner table setting a new cruelty-free trend. Tofurky is a member of Plant-Based Foods Association.

These sausages definitely have a great smell, oh that aroma…! It’s not fair to say that it tastes like an Italian sausage* but it is different and has a great taste of its own. We can feel the grains in it as well, which is complimenting the overall flavor. With some mustard and ketchup, we thoroughly enjoyed it, and it’s almost there simulating a regular sausage! It’s a thumbs up from us!

It is Non-GMO† Project Verified, a rich source of protein, iron and comes with carbs, calcium, and dietary fiber. Provides 280 calories per serving. It is also low in fat being free of cholesterol, and trans fat. If you’re physically active then the sodium content shouldn’t be a problem either.

Ingredients: Organic tofu (water, organic soybeans, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride), vital wheat gluten, expeller pressed Non-GMO canola oil, water, shoyu soy sauce (water, non-GMO soybeans, wheat, salt, culture), organic soy flour, sundried tomatoes, basil, granulated garlic, sea salt, spices.

* We recall the taste when we were omnis

† GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms

 

Tofurky Kielbasa Style Sausages Review

 Tofurky Kielbasa Style Sausages Review

Rating: 3.7 out of 5 (from 13 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

TheVeganKind (delivery: UK & international)

Another product from Tofurky (USA) which provides plant-based food products since 1980. We liked how it looked from the outside, you can smell the soy sauce in it and see the spices inside the sausage encased. The texture looks pretty much like a regular sausage.

This time we boiled these sausages for our taste test. The taste is not right up there yet to simulate a real sausage*, and somewhat bland with a meatball like consistency to it. Not really sure whether it was purely due to boiling than frying but that’s how it turned out.

So certainly not the best vegan sausage we’ve had but if you try other interesting ways of preparing it or consume with different combinations it may just be good enough.

It is Non-GMO† Project Verified, a rich source of protein and comes with iron, potassium, carbs, calcium, and dietary fiber. Provides 240 calories per serving. It is also low in fat being free of cholesterol, and trans fat. If you’re physically active then the sodium content shouldn’t be a problem either.

Ingredients: Vital wheat gluten, organic tofu (water, organic soybeans, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride), water, expeller pressed non-GMO canola oil, onions, shoyu soy sauce (water, non-GMO soybeans, wheat, salt, culture), organic soy flour, granulated garlic, sea salt, garlic puree, spices, organic cane sugar, mustard seed.

*We recall the taste when we were omnis

†GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms

Lightlife Jumbo Veggie Hot Dogs Review

 Lightlife Jumbo Veggie Hot Dogs Review

Rating: 4.1 out of 5 (from 5654 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? Yes

Lightlife has provided quality foods more than 30 years since 1979. This particular product has been there on the market since the 90’s and it has stood the test of time.

To get into the nitty-gritty of it, it definitely smells like a hot dog*, no doubt. Seems like they have really done a good job of seasoning. We had our hot dog with mustard, onions, tomato and relish. The texture and consistency were pretty much like a hot dog as well, but slightly softer and mushier.

The taste had a mild hot dog flavor*. We would recommend boiling them first before frying it with vegan butter/ cooking oil of your choice to get the best out of it or you may also grill these. If you tend to have a craving for hot dogs this may help curb it.

It is Non-GMO† Project Verified, a rich source of protein and comes with iron, calcium, dietary fiber and potassium. Provides 100 calories per serving. It is also low in fat being free of cholesterol, and trans fat. If you’re physically active then the sodium content shouldn’t be a problem either.

Ingredients: water, soy protein isolate, soybean oil, evaporated cane syrup, pea protein isolate, tapioca starch, salt, potassium chloride, bakers yeast extract, carrageenan, dried garlic, natural flavor (from plant sources), natural smoke flavor, xanthan gum, fermented rice flour, guar gum, oleoresin paprika (color).

* We recall the taste when we were omnis

† GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms

Loma Linda Big Franks Review

 Loma Linda Big Franks Review

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (from 291 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

This USA product is supplied by Atlantic Natural Foods which is SQF certified, and HACCP certified (preventive approach to food safety). These are made with soy protein, onions, and natural smoke flavor.

It is pre-cooked so can be eaten directly out of the can or you can fry them (to get it crispy).  The texture definitely looks like hot dogs, nice and full. We had it with ketchup and vegan mayo and boy, it was scrumptious and we are delighted for giving it a go!

Since these sausages have a soft texture and consistency they could be easily broken down and used for other recipes as well. The broth in which they come in can also be used to add flavor to certain recipes. If you are searching for healthier alternatives for regular hot dogs, then this is something you may want to try! They are flavorful and we were thrilled with it.

These hot dogs are shelf-stable, have 58% less fat than beef dogs, and have only 80 calories per sausage. It is also low in fat being free of cholesterol, and trans fat. A rich source of protein, and comes with iron, dietary fiber and B vitamins.

Vegan Deli Slices (Lunch Meat) Brands Review


Tofurky Hickory Smoked Slices Review

Tofurky Hickory Smoked Slices Review 

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (from 401 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

TheVeganKind (delivery: UK & international)

Once again it’s Tofurky (USA) which provides plant-based food products since 1980. Certainly, it looks like a regular lunch meat in terms of texture and smelled pretty good.

Unlike some other products which add liquid smoke, Tofurky imparts a delicate smoke flavor to these deli slices as they smoke it in a real smokehouse over hickory chips to give an authentic smoky flavor and appetizing brown crust on the outside. So the hickory smokiness was spot on! 

It’s amazing how well these slices have been made to resemble the real thing. We had a few smoked slices with bread, vegan mayo, tomato, and lettuce. Honestly, these slices tasted like some real smoked turkey slices*, and we are in awe that these are plant-based, it was a delicious, filling sandwich!

So Tofurky this one is for you: “y’all have done such a good job with these slices and have even put some of the low-quality real turkey slices into shame and made so-called “high-quality” ones envy you!” If there is a quibble if at all, that would be the saltiness and moisture which lacked slightly and pretty sure they will improve on it. Perfect for picnics, lunches or straight out of the pack.

It is Non-GMO†, a rich source of protein and comes with iron, calcium, carbs, and dietary fiber. Provides 100 calories per serving. It is also low in fat being free of cholesterol, saturated fat and trans fat (great for weight watchers!).     

* We recall the taste when we were omnis

† GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms

Ingredients: water, vital wheat gluten, wheat protein, organic tofu (water, organic soybeans, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride), non-genetically engineered canola oil, natural vegetarian flavors, shoyu soy sauce (water, non-genetically engineered soybeans, wheat, salt, culture), non-genetically engineered corn starch, white bean flour, garbanzo bean flour, lemon juice from concentrate, garlic, onion, calcium lactate from beets, sea salt.

 

Tofurky Bulk Oven Roast Beef Deli Review

Tofurky Bulk Oven Roast Beef Deli Review  

Our Rating for the Product: 3/5

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

TheVeganKind  (delivery: UK & international)

These Tofurky (USA) slices apparently made from the same delicious recipe as the Holiday Tofurky Roast. Smells good like regular deli slices.

We thought it was slightly thicker than Tofurky’s Hickory Smoked Slices, which is a plus! The texture is a bit artificial, but then again made out of plant-based ingredients, it’s good enough!

Eating it right out of the package, certainly tasted more like oven-roasted turkey*, but eating it as a sandwich was much tastier with lettuce, tomato, onions and vegan cheese. These slices would be handy for picnics, lunches or straight out of the pack for anything you fancy.

It is Non-GMO†, a rich source of protein, dietary fiber and comes with iron, calcium, and carbs. Provides 100 calories per serving. It is also low in fat being free of cholesterol, saturated fat and trans fat (great for weight watchers!).

Ingredients: water, wheat protein, organic tofu (water, organic soybeans, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride), non genetically engineered canola oil, natural vegetarian flavors, shoyu soy sauce (water, non genetically engineered soybeans, wheat, salt, culture), non genetically engineered corn starch, white bean flour, garbonzo bean flour, lemon juice from concentrate, garlic, onion, calcium lactate from beets.

* We recall the taste when we were omnis

† GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms

Vegan Meatball Brands Review


gardein™ Classic Meatless Meatballs Review

gardein™ Classic Meatless Meatballs Review  

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (from 179 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? Yes

gardein™ is a well known Canadian brand for providing meat substitutes for over 2 decades. They have safe quality foods (SQF) audit program, and the facilities are HACCP certified.

We tried these with the usual sauce, pasta, and some vegan shredded cheese. When you look at the meatballs it does look like regular meatballs and tastes quite similar* to those. It is meaty, has good substance to it and pretty firm in consistency.  Very flavorful, quite chewy & moist and you can feel the herbs, spices and the pepper as well.  This would be a lovely addition to pasta, stews, meatball pizza, etc.

It is a rich source of protein, iron, dietary fiber and comes with carbs, calcium, and vitamin A. Provides 150 calories per serving. It’s also free of cholesterol, and trans fat.    

Ingredients: water, wheat protein, organic tofu (water, organic soybeans, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride), non genetically engineered canola oil, natural vegetarian flavors, shoyu soy sauce (water, non genetically engineered soybeans, wheat, salt, culture), non genetically engineered corn starch, white bean flour, garbonzo bean flour, lemon juice from concentrate, garlic, onion, calcium lactate from beets.

* We recall the taste when we were omnis

Loma Linda Vegetarian Burger Review

Loma Linda Vegetarian Burger Review

Rating: 4.9 out of 5 (from 10 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

This is a product of Atlantic Natural Foods (USA) which is SQF certified, and HACCP certified (preventive approach to food safety).

It is quite a versatile product, think meatballs, burgers, loaf, sloppy joe, tacos, chili, burritos, soups, casseroles, pot pies, empanadas, shepherd’s pie, bolognese sauce, all in this can! Your herbs, seasoning, spices, and imagination!

Considering taste, they were perfect and it actually gets firmer and meat-like* as it simmers. The taste and texture were so good and having these cans can be quite convenient to whip up a meal.

A rich source of protein, B vitamins, and comes with iron, dietary fiber, and carbs. Provides 70 calories per serving. It is also low in fat being free of cholesterol, saturated fat and trans fat (great for weight watchers!).       

* We recall the taste when we were omnis 

Vegan Barbecue / BBQ  Brands Review


Tofurky Barbecue Slow Roasted Chick’n Review

Tofurky Barbecue Slow Roasted Chick'n Review

TheVeganKind (delivery: UK & international)

Our Rating for the Product: 4.5/5

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

It does look almost like pulled chicken* which is tempting and the taste was no disappointment, a pure treat, delicious and flavorful! The BBQ sauce was pretty similar to regular BBQ sauce and does have a slight smoky flavor while having a tangy kick to it, which is well complimented. It can be seared, steamed, or tossed cold with your favorite veggies.

This is another product by Tofurky (USA) which provides plant-based food since 1980. Tofurky is a member of Plant-Based Foods Association.

It is Non-GMO†, a rich source of protein and comes with iron, calcium, carbs, dietary fiber, and potassium. Provides 200 calories per serving. It is also free of cholesterol, and trans fat.      

Ingredients: water, vital wheat gluten, organic tofu (water, organic soybeans, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride), non-gm expeller pressed canola oil, organic cane sugar, yeast extract, oat fiber, vegan natural flavors, non-gm corn starch, sea salt, potassium chloride, granulated garlic, calcium lactate from beets, onion powder, spices, citric acid, titanium dioxide (a naturally occurring mineral).

Marinade: water, organic cane sugar, tomato paste, molasses, organic white vinegar, natural vegan flavor and color, sea salt, onion powder, granulated garlic, black pepper, cinnamon, xanthan gum.

* We recall the taste when we were omnis

† GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms

Vegan Chicken Brands Review


Beyond Meat Lightly Seasoned Chicken Free Strips Review

 Beyond Meat Lightly Seasoned Chicken Free Strips Review

Rating: 4 out of 5 (from 2040 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

They have really made it look like real chicken strips. It even tears apart like chicken and has that tenderness of chicken. It has a slight sticky texture on the outside and has grill marks on it as well. Smells so good and no doubt what so ever that it tastes like chicken!*. We are pretty sure, you can deceive many with this one into thinking that this is real chicken! It’s a thumbs up from us!!

What is special about Beyond Meat is that they have done studies extensively on the protein architecture of real meat and infused that same architecture into plant-based protein to give the best simulation possible. This would be a nice addition to salads, pasta, rice, sandwiches, tacos, burritos, fajitas, stir-fries, etc.

It is gluten-free, a rich source of complete protein, iron and comes with calcium, carbs, and dietary fiber. Provides 130 calories per serving, and also very low in fat compared to regular chicken being free of cholesterol, saturated fat, and trans fat.     

Ingredients: Water, Soy Protein Isolate†, Pea Protein Isolate, Lightly Seasoned Chicken Flavor‡ (Yeast Extract, Potato Maltodextrin, Natural Flavoring, Salt, Sunflower Oil, Citric Acid), Rice Flour, Non-GMO Expeller-pressed Canola Oil*, Soy Fiber*, Carrot Fiber, Contains 0.5% or less of: Dipotassium Phosphate, Salt, Spices, Sugar§, Titanium Dioxide (for color), White Vinegar, Potassium Chloride, Paprika

*We recall the taste when we were omnis

† Non-GMO Identity Preserved

‡ Vegan

§ Evaporated Cane Juice

 

gardein™ Lightly Seasoned Chick’n Scallopini

gardein™ Lightly Seasoned Chick'n Scallopini

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (from 247 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? Yes

Quite happy with the size of it, pretty big and the smell was really good, not exactly like chicken but good enough and probably coming from their seasoning. You can always dust it with some flour for a more crispy texture but in our case we just sautéed it.

It does look like regular chicken with its texture, very realistic and moist. We really felt like eating a piece of chicken*, no faking, that was the thought that popped. All we can say is, another gardein™ success! Now we didn’t batter it, but pretty sure it would taste even better if you do so.

If you’re looking for something that tastes like chicken, then you should try this one. Quite a versatile product and you may have it with pasta, rice, salads, sandwiches, etc.

It is gluten-free and Non-GMO†.  A rich source of protein and comes with iron, calcium, dietary fiber, potassium and vitamin A. Provides 100 calories per serving and also low in fat (great for weight watchers!) being free of cholesterol, saturated fat and trans fat.     

Ingredients: water, soy protein isolate, expeller pressed canola oil, methylcellulose, tapioca starch, yeast extract, organic cane sugar, organic vinegar, potato starch, salt, quinoa, natural flavors (from plant sources, contain celery), color added, mushroom dry matter, acacia gum. rub: dehydrated vegetable (red bell pepper, garlic, onion), spices, organic cane sugar, salt.  Manufactured in a facility that also processes wheat products.       

* We recall the taste when we were omnis

† GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms

Dixie Diners’ Club – Chicken (Not!) Strips Review

Dixie Diners' Club - Chicken (Not!) Strips Review

Rating: 4.1 out of 5 (from 69 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

Made in USA by The Dixie Diners’ Club who have been providing food for 3 decades.  Do note that these are not “strips” rather, they are more like “chunks”.

These chunks definitely need a good base as they’re more like TVP with a spongy texture and taste after whatever flavoring you use. We seasoned these overnight and then reconstituted the following day. What we suggest is to cook these until it’s tender without undercooking them. Because if you undercook it, you may feel it more chewy & rubbery.

We simmered it for like 30 minutes which we felt was enough time to absorb the flavors and become tender.  The texture was more like chicken and it came out good probably due to the seasoning and the flavors were well absorbed while tasting quite close to chicken*.

If you are looking for something that looks and tastes like chicken, you can give it a go. You may use it for chile, pot pies, casserole, stews, soups, entrées, tortillas, and pasta. So the verdict is, it is a good chicken substitute, as long as you do the preparation right.

It’s a rich source of protein, iron, dietary fiber and comes with calcium, carbs, and potassium. Provides 140 calories per serving, gluten free, low sodium and also low in fat being free of cholesterol, and only 0.5 g of saturated fat.

Ingredients: soy flour

*We recall the taste when we were omnis

 

Loma Linda Tender Bits Review

Loma Linda Tender Bits Review

Rating: 3.9 out of 5 (from 122 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

This USA product is supplied by Atlantic Natural Foods which is SQF certified, and HACCP certified (preventive approach to food safety).  These are shelf stable, pre-cooked, and made with wheat gluten, oat flour, and soy protein.

The product can have a bland taste if you don’t season it properly. We coated these with seasoned flour and fried as suggested. Then we had these with some ketchup and they were savory and tasted great.  They did taste like chicken nuggets* and a very good alternative to filet or strips of chicken.

These tenders can be so versatile in a variety of recipes as you can make an easy appetizer or use for casseroles, stews, pasta, and salads.

High in protein, low in fat, and provides dietary fiber, and riboflavin. Free of cholesterol, trans fat, and sugar as well.

Vegan Crispy Nuggets/Cutlets Review


Chicken Flavor

gardein™ Mandarin Orange Crispy Chick’n Review

gardein™ Mandarin Orange Crispy Chick'n Review  

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (from 469 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? Yes

gardein™ is a well known Canadian brand for providing meat substitutes for over 2 decades. They have safe quality foods (SQF) audit program, and the facilities are HACCP certified.

It comes with battered pieces which look more like tempura chicken nuggets and with the sauce which it comes with would be a great way to mimic an East Asian chicken dish. You can either prepare it on a stove or in the oven. So we fried it while flipping each piece to get both sides browned and then added a bit of sauce (you don’t have to use the whole sauce packet here unless you really want to, as you can use it for another dish as well).

Then got those pieces coated well with the sauce by mixing it together. Do note that, if you use the whole sauce packet you may lessen the crispiness and it may get soggy. The sauce is slightly sweet and we thought it complimented well. It is the kind of sweetness you associate with oriental meat dishes. Inside it does look like chicken no doubt, with a meaty texture. Oh yes, definitely tastes like chicken nuggets*!

It has a shelf life of 360 days. A good source of protein, iron, and comes with calcium, carbs, and dietary fiber. Provides 130 calories per serving and it is also low in fat being free of cholesterol, saturated fat, and trans fat.

Ingredients:

water, soy protein*, vital wheat gluten, natural flavors (from plant sources), organic ancient grains (quinoa, amaranth, millet and kamut ), expeller pressed canola oil, pea protein, carrot fiber, organic beet root fiber, organic evaporated cane juice, yeast extract, sea salt.

Batter: wheat gluten, modified cornstarch, toasted wheat crumbs, soy protein isolate, wheat flour, cane sugar, salt, onion powder, soy lecithin, spices, cream of tartar, baking soda, garlic powder.

Sauce: water, evaporated cane juice, rice vinegar, less sodium soy sauce (water, wheat, soybeans, salt, alcohol), fruit puree (water, mandarin and tangerine juice concentrate, chopped orange peels, natural flavor), salted sake (water, rice, salt), corn starch, Thai chili sauce (sugar, water, chili paste, garlic, vinegar, modified food starch, salt, fermented wheat protein, cayenne pepper, citric acid, xanthan gum), ginger, expeller pressed canola oil, white pepper. Product contains less than 0.5% alcohol *non genetically engineered soybeans

*We recall the taste when we were omnis

gardein™ Seven Grain Crispy Tenders Review

gardein™ Seven Grain Crispy Tenders Review

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (from 508 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? Yes

They looked like typical chicken nuggets. The look and smell were really good once they were done. Inside these crispy tenders looked chicken-like consistency and very well simulated. We’re pretty sure you can fool many with these ones into thinking they’re real chicken nuggets. It was heavenly with some tomato sauce and that was some indulgence!

These crispy tenders have a shelf life of 180 days. A good source of protein, and comes with calcium, iron, carbs, and dietary fiber. Provides 100 calories per serving and also low in fat being free of cholesterol, saturated fat, and trans fat.  

gardein™ is a well known Canadian brand for providing meat substitutes for over 2 decades. They have safe quality foods (SQF) audit program, and the facilities are HACCP certified.

Ingredients:

Water, soy protein, vital wheat gluten, ancient grains (quinoa, amaranth, millet and kamut ), natural flavors (from plant sources), potato starch, expeller pressed canola oil and/or safflower oil, pea protein, modified vegetable gum, carrot fiber, organic beet root fiber, organic evaporated cane juice, yeast extract, sea salt.

Seven grain breading: water, modified cornstarch, toasted wheat crumbs, wheat flour, onion powder, soy lecithin, spice, corn flour, baking powder, guar gum, rice flour, oat bran, oats, quinoa flour, amaranth flour, millet flour, kamut.

Fish Flavor

gardein™ Golden Fishless Filet Review

gardein™ Golden Fishless Filet Review

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (from 112 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? Yes

These fishless filets really look like some breaded cod and had the smell of a regular fish filet. The size, we would say a little smaller than a regular fish filet, but good enough. So we fried those as instructed and then taste tested.

After cutting it, the consistency we thought was slightly firmer than a regular fish filet. Not exactly flaky like regular fish, but the color was more reminiscent of fish which was appetizing. But then as far as taste is concerned, it’s delicious!

If you happened to love fish and chips before going vegan, then this is what you should be looking for, as we highly recommend it! There is no overwhelming fishy smell or flavor as well as it can be a turn off for some and gardein™ had hit the jackpot in terms of taste…they were scrumptious! Another gardein™ (Canadian) success!

These fishless filets are a good source of protein, dietary fiber and come with omega 3s, calcium, iron, and carbs. Provides 180 calories per serving and also free of cholesterol, and trans fat.       

Ingredients:

water, soy protein concentrate*, expeller pressed canola oil*, potato starch, methylcellulose, soy protein isolate*, sea salt, natural flavors (from plant sources), vital wheat gluten*, yeast extract, algal oil (plant source of Omega 3 DHA and EPA), citric acid, organic cane sugar, color added, onion powder, pea protein, carrot fiber, beetroot fiber, turmeric extract, paprika and rosemary extracts, natural smoke flavor.

Breading: water, enriched wheat flour (wheat flour*, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), modified corn starch, tapioca starch, yellow corn flour, wheat gluten*, salt, onion powder, spices, garlic powder, baking powder, canola oil, soy flour, xanthan gum, paprika, sugar, turmeric, soy bean oil. *Non genetically engineered soybeans, wheat and canola.

Vegan Pork Brands Review


gardein™ BBQ Pocket Meals Review (Pulled Porkless) / Vegan Pizza Pockets

gardein™ BBQ Pocket Meals Review (Pulled Porkless)

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (from 62 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? Yes

These come in individual packets separately and we baked these in the oven. They had a nice baked color, looked toasty and appetizing while smelling really good as if you’ve entered into a BBQ restaurant with a lot of briskets* though in this case, it is cruelty-free!

Just like pizza pockets, these have that powdery surface on top. Some may like it to be slightly bigger but we thought the size was kind of cute and much easier to consume. The dough is crisp and has a really good consistency. There is a nice BBQ* flavor coming from the paste inside, of course, that’s no surprise, having BBQ sauce in it.

When chewing it does feel like pulled pork* and stringy while having that flavor as well. Hands down these are some of the best vegan savory baked products we’ve found with a meaty paste, thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend! Would be great to use as a snack, as a treat, or have when traveling.

These are a good source of protein, iron, and come with carbs, dietary fiber, calcium, vitamin A and vitamin C. Provides 230 calories per serving and also free of cholesterol, and trans fat.        

Ingredients:

water, vital wheat gluten*, soy protein isolate*, natural flavors (from plant sources), yeast extract, expeller pressed canola oil*, garlic powder, onion powder, malted barley extract, organic cane sugar, sea salt, pea protein, carrot fiber, beetroot fiber, molasses.

BBQ sauce: tomato paste, organic cane sugar, water, organic apple cider vinegar, molasses, expeller pressed canola oil*, tamarind extract, sea salt, corn starch, spices, vinegar, yeast extract, natural flavors (from plant sources, contains celery), xanthan gum, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, natural hickory smoke flavor, modified vegetable gum. bun: enriched wheat flour* (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, organic cane sugar, palm flakes, baking powder, yeast, sea salt, natural flavor (from plant sources). *Non genetically engineered soybeans, wheat and canola.

*We recall the taste when we were omnis

gardein™ Sweet and Sour Porkless Bites Review

gardein™ Sweet and Sour Porkless Bites Review

Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (from 21 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? Yes

These coated bites come with the sauce which adds the sweet n sour flavor, so we had to get it thawed first.  Make sure you don’t add the sauce prematurely to the porkless bites. Just wait until the bites are well sautéed and just keeping 1-2 minutes before you stop sautéing add the sauce.

Adding the sauce too early can ruin it due to overheating and may even caramelize. Once the sauce is added make sure you mix it well with the pork bites to get those fully coated. These pork bites do smell like real pork* and have a slight smoky flavor to it. The texture is quite firm and the taste is quite close to pork*. You may have these with rice, pasta and anything similar.

gardein™ is the well known Canadian brand for providing meat substitutes, which has safe quality foods (SQF) audit program, and the facilities are HACCP certified.

It is a good source of protein, iron, and comes with carbs, dietary fiber, calcium, and potassium. Provides 230 calories per serving and also very low on fat being free of cholesterol, saturated fat, and trans fat.        

Ingredients:

water, vital wheat gluten*, soy protein concentrate*, yeast extract, expeller pressed canola oil*, methycellulose, natural flavors (from plant sources), garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, minced garlic, organic cane sugar, miso paste (organic soybeans, organic rice koji, sea salt, water, koji spores), tamarind extract, tomato powder, malted barley extract, spices, pea protein, carrot fiber, beetroot fiber, molasses, wheat starch*, soy lecithin*.

batter: water, enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), expeller pressed canola oil*, rice flour, corn starch, sugar, salt, garlic powder, spice, leavening (cream of tartar, sodium bicarbonate).

sauce: water, organic cane sugar, distilled vinegar, tomato paste, pineapple juice concentrate, tamari soy sauce* (water, soybeans, salt, sugar), natural flavors (from plant sources), yeast extract, tamarind extract, spices, tomato powder, sea salt, carrageenan, garlic powder, onion powder, minced onion, xanthan gum, color added (contains paprika extract), ascorbic acid, canola oil, citric acid.  *Non genetically engineered soybeans, wheat and canola.

* We recall the taste when we were omnis

 

Vegan Bacon Brands Review


Check the link >> Tofurky Smoked Maple Bacon Tempeh

Vegan Fish Brands Review


Loma Linda Fishless Tuna Review

Loma Linda Fishless Tuna Review

 

Rating: 4 out of 5 (from 33 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? No non-vegan ingredients

The first impression was good as they have really done a good job of getting a similar appearance to tuna* with the texture and color. Not perfect, but good enough!

We made a sandwich and the taste was somewhere there compared to tuna, fair enough considering that it is a vegan product and not overly ‘fishy’ like canned tuna which can be a turn off for some. It was a filling sandwich. We also recommend using some vegan mayo, lemon juice, mustard, kelp, relish, salt and pepper with it to enhance flavor. In the end, did we like it? Yes we did, and quite a good vegan fish substitute.

You can make a tuna club sandwich, fish submarine, wraps, stir fry it, make a casserole, salad or have it with pita bread.

It is gluten-free, Non-GMO†, made in USA by Atlantic Natural Foods LLC  which is SQF certified, and HACCP certified (preventive approach to food safety). You may also know that there is no mercury exposure here unlike with real fish!

A good source of protein, and comes with carbs, calcium, and potassium. Provides 50 calories per serving and also very low on fat being free of cholesterol, saturated fat, and trans fat

*We recall the taste when we were omnis

† GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms

 

Vegan Seafood Brands Review


gardein™ Mini Crabless Cakes Review

gardein™ Mini Crabless Cakes Review

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (from 61 consumer ratings)

Certified Vegan? Yes

You can quickly prepare it in minutes either on the stove or in an oven. Has a very nice crispy crust to it with a beautiful audible crunch, and inside it does look like crab cakes*. The texture is very soft, not greasy and it resembles crab cakes really well with a flaky crab like non-meat filler.

There is some seafood flavor to it to an extent without being too overpowering along with a hint of bell pepper, soy, and salty taste to it. We had it with ketchup and they were delicious! If you happened to love seafood before going vegan and if you have any cravings, this is something you can definitely try.

We feel this would go well with Asian dishes or you can use it as an appetizer, snack, a side dish or as a treat. gardein™ is a well known Canadian brand for providing meat substitutes for over 2 decades. They have safe quality foods (SQF) audit program, and the facilities are HACCP certified.

It comes with omega 3 which is a handy nutrient, especially for vegans, and a good source of protein, while providing carbs, dietary fiber, calcium, iron, vitamin C and vitamin A. Provides 130 calories per serving and also very low on fat being free of cholesterol, saturated fat, and trans fat.

Ingredients:

water, textured wheat protein (wheat gluten*, wheat protein*), expeller pressed canola oil*, vegetables (red bell pepper and green onion), soy protein isolate*, vital wheat gluten*, potato starch, natural flavors (from plant sources), methylcellulose, roasted garlic puree (roasted garlic, water), organic cane sugar, sea salt, yeast extract, lemon juice concentrate, tapioca starch, white distilled vinegar, color added, chickpea flour, spice, chia seed oil (plant source of Omega 3 ALA), algal oil (plant source of Omega 3 DHA and EPA), citric acid, modified corn starch.

Breading: water, enriched wheat flour (wheat flour*, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), modified corn starch, tapioca starch, yellow corn flour, onion powder, garlic powder, leavening (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, monocalcium phosphate), canola oil, cane sugar, yeast, salt, soy flour, spice, xanthan gum. *Non genetically engineered soybeans, wheat, and canola.

Pinterest Pin

Vegan Meat Brands Review, Vegan Meat Substitutes

References:

[1] https://www.fda.gov/food/ingredientspackaginglabeling/foodadditivesingredients/ucm364184.htm

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4152495/   

 

Filed Under: Diet, Reviews Tagged With: reviews, vegan diet, vegan meat substitutes

Dairy-Free Vegan Chocolate Brands Taste Test & Review

November 1, 2017 By Dishan Mendis 2 Comments

Dairy-Free Vegan Chocolate Brands Review and Taste Test

Dairy-free vegan chocolate brands review presents you the best and popular vegan chocolate brands (dark, milk and white chocolate). We show consumer ratings and discuss taste, texture, consistency, and quality.

Scroll down to read each review and be amazed at the wide range of vegan chocolates to indulge!

Dairy-Free Vegan Dark Chocolate Brands Review and Taste Test

Endangered Species Natural Dark Chocolate 88% Cocoa Review


Endangered Species Panther, Natural Dark Chocolate – 88% Cocoa Review

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (from 734 consumer ratings)

This we have to say one of the best vegan dark chocolates around. It is smooth, it has flavor, and it is quite thick as well. Loved the thick creamy texture while melting, and we didn’t find any peculiar aftertaste which you may get with certain dark chocolates. All in all, it was a pleasant experience!

Besides the taste, as vegans, we feel this brand is much closer to our heart having shared values. This brand has wildlife conservation at its heart (10% of their net profits are donated) and being fair trade certified (apparently the first American-made chocolate using fully traceable fairtrade beans from West Africa) say a lot about the manufacturer which could take your taste even further. You also learn about an endangered animal with each wrapper with this non-GMO verified, gluten-free chocolate!

With many flavor notes to indulge, and dark chocolate being a superfood packed with antioxidants, you can’t really go wrong with this one!

Green & Black’s Organic Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa Review


Green & Black’s Organic Dark Chocolate – 85% Cocoa Review

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (from 892 consumer ratings)

Want an intense hit of cocoa yet balanced with the right amount of sugar and vanilla with pure richness? Then this USDA certified organic dark chocolate is for you which is founded in Britain, and now made in Poland!

Even if you couldn’t handle the intensity initially give it a bit of time. You may just acquire a taste for it. Just like good things come in small packages, with each and every single piece of this deliciousness we believe that’s the case. The rich taste is quite possibly due to the full, dynamic flavor characteristics of Trinitario cocoa beans. As far as sourcing is concerned it is Fair Trade certified.

Dark chocolate being a superfood for the brain (full of antioxidants) and with fiber, protein, zero trans fat, zero cholesterol, you’re doing your health a favor with this dark chocolate.

Lindt Excellence Extra Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa Review


Lindt Excellence Extra Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa Review

Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (from 605 consumer ratings)

Founded in 1845 in Switzerland, this is a brand that has its presence all over the world. Today it is made in USA, but it will never lose its influence from the Swiss chocolatier. Because when it comes to premium chocolate they’ve got it all, the taste, the elegance and finesse to produce gratifying chocolates for all your senses.

It has a silky smooth and crisp texture to it which you would expect from a premium chocolate. Our initial taste was somewhat reminiscent of black coffee and with 85% cocoa, it was strong, bold and intense initially. Once you get past that bitterness you can feel the true chocolate flavors while it melts and then leaves you with a strong aftertaste. So what can we say, it can be a love-hate thing depending on the way you enjoy dark chocolate. Not all dark chocolates are made equal and that’s the beauty of it.

High in antioxidants and with a good amount of iron, a bit of dietary fiber, protein, calcium, zero trans fat, zero cholesterol it is a healthy choice as well! With regard to ethical sourcing, the manufacturer claims to have their internal Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program.

Newman’s Own Organics Premium Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa Review


Newman’s Own Organics Premium Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa Review

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (from 37 consumer ratings)

A company that is built on the values of “100% of Profits to Charity” and “Quality Will Always Trump the Bottom Line” has a story that is certainly worthy of our attention. This USA made chocolate, sources Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa, and it’s USDA certified organic.

The most noteworthy aspect of this dark chocolate is that it doesn’t have an overpowering bitter taste at all. It is smooth in texture and slightly sweeter compared to other dark chocolates but has a good balance in taste with a long aftertaste. So if you’re someone who wants to have dark chocolate for health or any other reason without its inherent bitterness then we suggest you give this a try.

As usual, a great source of antioxidants (typical of dark chocolate) and comes with protein, calcium, iron, dietary fiber, zero trans fat, zero cholesterol and zero sodium which make it a healthy choice.

Equal Exchange Organic Very Dark Chocolate 71% Cocoa Review


Equal Exchange Organic Very Dark Chocolate 71% Cocoa Review

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (from 148 consumer ratings)

This Swiss chocolate was a delight on its own. It had a pleasant aroma as soon as we opened and smelled it and the smooth, soft texture was pleasing as well. While tasting, we immediately noticed the fruity notes that hit us as soon as it started to melt. There was no sharp bitter taste which is understandable for a 71% cocoa. At the end, the rich, creamy flavors left us with a decadent, balanced taste experience.

So if you’re looking for dark chocolate without the overpowering bitterness then this is an option to consider. It is certified organic, fair-traded (certified) and comes with a lot of antioxidants, along with protein, calcium, iron, dietary fiber, zero trans fat, zero cholesterol and zero sodium. Yes, another good delicious health choice!

Trader Joe’s Belgian Dark Chocolate Bars 72% Cacao Review


Rating: 4 out of 5 (from 142 consumer ratings)

This Belgium dark chocolate is a sweet treat and not too bitter which can be classified as the typical semisweet dark chocolate. It does have a smooth texture, and you still get a considerable taste of dark chocolate where the sweetness has not dominated its dark chocolate flavor. Thus, the whole experience was pleasant and appetizing.

If you’re a lover of semisweet dark chocolate then this is certainly worthy of trying. Good for nutrition as well with antioxidants, protein, calcium, iron, dietary fiber, zero trans fat, and zero cholesterol.

Raaka Bourbon Cask Aged Organic Dark Chocolate Bar 82% Cacao Review


Raaka Bourbon Cask Aged Organic Dark Chocolate Bar 82% Cacao Review

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (from 241 consumer ratings)

Made with certified organic Maya Mountain cacao from Belize this award-winning dark chocolate is certainly for the chocolate connoisseur. It is on the expensive side and is no surprise for an artisanal chocolate where every bar can present you with a novel sensation. Made with nibs produced out of cacao beans and these nibs are then aged in Bourbon barrels for four weeks.

The rich, creamy chocolate flavor starts with the notes of caramel, vanilla, oak which then leaves you with an aftertaste of subtle alcoholic (Bourbon) bitterness and a bit of dryness. Nothing too intense or overpowering, it is a balanced taste with harmony. What a refreshing experience, which starts with sweetness and then transforms into gradual bitterness at the end with a reminiscent of having a glass of wine.

Though indulgence and health don’t seem to go hand in hand in most cases, this treat is filled with antioxidants giving you a guilt-free pleasure. It is certified organic, kosher, Non-GMO, and free of gluten, nuts, and soy.

Alter Eco Dark Blackout Organic Chocolate Bar 85% Cocoa Review


Alter Eco Dark Blackout Organic Chocolate Bar 85% Cocoa Review

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (from 331 consumer ratings)

Made in Switzerland with cocoa beans plucked from the trees near the Ecuadorian coast and crafted by artisans, our hopes were high and it didn’t disappoint us! This chocolatier seems to put their heart and soul into everything they do, be it sourcing ethically, or producing and presenting you with a decadent award-winning dark chocolate.

Fine snap and melts really well with deep sweet fruity notes combined with subtle notes of vanilla and other rich chocolate flavors, so a little goes a long way. The bitterness is minimal and not overwhelming at all for an 85% dark chocolate. Again if you’re one of those looking to indulge in dark chocolate without the intense bitterness and looking for a balanced flavor, then this is a great option to consider.

USDA certified organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Fair Trade certified, carbon neutral product and gluten free. No artificial flavors, sweeteners, emulsifiers or soy.

Comes with a good amount of iron (40%), protein (3g), calcium (2%), dietary fiber (5g), zero trans fat, zero cholesterol and zero sodium, plus the antioxidants!

Plamil – Organic Ginger Chocolate 60% Cocoa Review


Plamil – Organic Ginger Chocolate 60% Cocoa Review

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (from 57 consumer ratings)

This UK chocolate brand comes with a unique exotic spicy ginger flavor. Not necessarily a dark chocolate but we put it under dark chocolates due to its higher cocoa content. If you’re a lover of strong ginger flavors then this is a must try! It is smooth, melts well, made with quality organic ingredients and gluten-free as well.

Plamil – Organic Dark Chocolate

Dairy-Free Vegan Milk Chocolate Brands Review and Taste Test

Moo Free Original Organic Milk Chocolate Alternative Review


Moo Free Original Organic Milk Chocolate Alternative Review

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (from 23 consumer ratings)

TheVeganKind  (delivery: UK and international)

Made in UK and going by their cruelty-free brand name (Moo Free) these award-winning milk chocolate bars don’t contain a trace of cow’s milk. That’s because their dairy-free chocolates are made using Hammy’s secret, organic, dairy-free chocolate recipe that ensures these bars really do taste like quality milk chocolate.

Once we opened the wrapper we noticed that it looked just like regular milk chocolate. There was a nice finish with a smooth texture to it. Fine creamy melt and truly tastes like milk chocolate, although a tad sweeter but a pleasant one. It is rather surprising how well they have been able to imitate milk chocolate being made out of rice milk.

Since vegan milk chocolates are not the easiest to find compared to dark chocolates we really cherished this lovely experience! If you’re a seeker of the middle path in the world of chocolates then this is an ideal choice as milk chocolates stand in between the dark and white chocolates.

Given the cartoonish child-friendly wrapper and a taste, even adults can enjoy, we are pretty sure both kids and adults will enjoy having a bite of these bars!

They do not manufacture any dairy products as the name suggests, it’s certified vegan, Non-GMO, gluten-free and free of soy.

Raaka Coconut Milk Chocolate Bar 60% Cocoa Review


Raaka Coconut Milk Chocolate Bar 60% Cocoa Review

Rating: 3.7 out of 5 (from 19 consumer ratings)

We were really excited to taste another product from this artisanal chocolatier having previously tasted their dark chocolate. As soon we opened, we were so eager to smell it and the smell of coconut was quite apparent.

Just like quality milk chocolate, the texture was smooth and we felt how fast it melted on our tongues. So here’s something to be cautious, if it’s the summer or you’re living in an area with high temperature make sure you get it delivered intact. If it melts and even if you resolidify again we believe the flavor would most probably change.

There is a slight semi-sweet dark chocolate flavor due to higher cocoa content for a milk chocolate (60%), but we liked that combination. The cacao butter and sugar combination gives you a hint of white chocolate flavor as well, as an aftertaste leaving you with an overall tropical sensation of coconut milk!

It is certified organic, kosher and Non-GMO, as well as gluten and soy free.

Enjoy Life Boom Choco Boom Ricemilk Chocolate Bar Review


Rating: 4 out of 5 (from 293 consumer ratings)

Here’s another vegan option for milk chocolates. The texture was not that smooth and looked dry for our liking and it was a bit hard to snap and chew as well.

Though the melt was not the best being on the firmer side, as the manufacturer promising to produce smile-good products, it did bring a smile to us with taste, which is the essential feature. The taste had a pleasant sweetness resembling typical milk chocolates really well. We feel both adults and kids will enjoy this one.

Free of dairy, gluten, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, and soy. It has no trans fat and cholesterol as well!

Dairy-Free Vegan White Chocolate Brands Review and Taste Test


Vivani White Nougat Crisp Chocolate Bar Review

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (from 27 consumer ratings)

This German organic vegan white chocolate is made of cocoa from Ecuador, Panama and the Dominican Republic and is a rarity in the world of vegan white chocolates. It was rather surprising though that it didn’t appear white in color. The question was “will it taste like white chocolate”

From the memories we’ve had with white chocolate (before we turned vegan), all we can say is, that it does taste like white chocolate. It was smooth, giving a luscious feeling of chocolate melting with a pleasant crunch with hazelnut…scrumptious and divine! Vegan white chocolate being rare, we hope you will admire this one!

The manufacturer claims to fully support the principles of fair trade placing values on fair price, socially acceptable working conditions, ban on child labor, and respectful dealings with trading partners.

Dairy-Free Vegan Truffles Review and Taste Test


Booja Booja Dairy-Free Hazelnut Crunch Chocolate Truffles Review

Booja Booja Dairy Free Hazelnut Crunch Chocolate Truffles Review

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (from 78 consumer ratings)

TheVeganKind  (delivery: UK and international)

Made in UK, these decadent award-winning (19 awards) truffles are handmade with fine organic chocolate and hazelnuts. Made with the Dominican Republic cocoa beans and sweet roasted Italian hazelnuts.

They say Booja-Booja is the feeling, the sound that flows with the first bite and we couldn’t agree more. Every piece of truffle was a package of heavenly pleasures for all your senses (including the 6th sense if you have one). Not only it melted in our mouths, but it melted our hearts so to speak. Everything was special and super, be it the aroma of hazelnuts, divine dusting of cocoa powder or the creamy melt, the crunchy chew, or the ultimate rich and luxurious indulgence.

So what can we say, felt like we’ve found a gem, giving us a sense of pride being vegan and excited to share this with all! We are quite confident that these little vegan truffles can take on any dairy chocolate truffle and may even put some of the Swiss counterparts to shame. A great choice as a gift or a treat and should a non-vegan get this as a gift may make them think what is there to miss as a vegan!

Though on the expensive side as you would expect with any indulgent treat, it was worth every penny.

Free of dairy, gluten & soy. Registered with the Vegan Society and Soil Association Organic (GB Organic Certification)

Dairy-Free Vegan Chocolate for Valentine’s Day


Chocolove Almonds & Sea Salt in Dark Chocolate Bar 55% Cocoa, Review and Taste Test

Chocolove Almonds & Sea Salt in Dark Chocolate Bar 55% Cocoa, Review

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (from 5585 consumer ratings)

Made in USA with premium Belgian chocolate, it has a nice flavor combination of dark chocolate, sea salt, and almonds.

We’ve got a mild dark taste, not bitter, somewhat semi-sweet and the salt just adds that extra zing to it. A unique flavor between the sweetness and a hint of saltiness giving varying sensations and stimulating different regions of the tongue. You can feel the creaminess of the rich dark chocolate that melts so smoothly over the tongue, the crunch of almonds and the fascinating subtle distinction that is randomly presented by the crystals of sea salt. It’s a delightful feeling!

Great as a present to your date/spouse which has a nice wrapping with a romantic poem written inside. Not to forget the antioxidants dark chocolate has while providing you iron, protein, calcium, without any trans fat or cholesterol.   

Other Vegan Options With Chocolove:

Chocolove Cherries & Almonds in Dark Chocolate Bar 55% Cocoa

Chocolove Cherries & Almonds in Dark Chocolate Bar 55% Cocoa

Chocolove 77% Extra Strong Dark Chocolate Bar

Chocolove 77% Extra Strong Dark Chocolate Bar

Chocolove Raspberry Dark Chocolate 55% Cocoa

Chocolove Raspberry Dark Chocolate 55% Cocoa

Chocolove Orange Peel in Dark Chocolate 55% Cocoa

 Chocolove Orange Peel in Dark Chocolate 55% Cocoa

Chocolove Chocolate Bar, Ginger Crystallized in Dark Chocolate 65% Cocoa

Chocolove Chocolate Bar, Ginger Crystallized in Dark Chocolate 65% Cocoa

Dairy-Free Vegan Chocolate for Easter & Halloween

Moo Free Easter Bunnycomb Egg with Buttons Review


Moo Free Easter Bunnycomb Egg with Buttons Review 

Rating: 5 out of 5 (from 13 consumer ratings)

As the brand name suggests (Moo Free), these UK organic chocolate eggs have no dairy. Yes, it is not honeycomb but bunnycomb because it is vegan and cruelty-free. To achieve the honeycomb flavor they have filled it with pieces of vegan-friendly toffees into the shell of the Easter eggs.

It is quite a thick chocolate which is always a plus and the taste was creamy and sweet but not too overpowering. The crunch with the infused vegan-friendly toffees was a pleasant surprise. We also enjoyed the little chocolate buttons inside, and they were yummy!

Moo Free brings you the flavor of great tasting milk chocolate Easter eggs without dairy in vegan style. Great as an Easter gift, Moo Free bunnycomb Easter eggs are perfect for kids or adults of any age who can’t have dairy products, vegan or anyone that enjoys quality chocolate Easter eggs. It is made using a combination of natural, organic and ethically sourced ingredients.

They do not manufacture any dairy products, it’s certified vegan, free of gluten, GMOs, and soy.

Other Vegan Easter Chocolate Egg Options with Moo Free

Moo Free Original Organic Easter Egg


Moo Free Original Organic Easter Egg

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (from 8 consumer ratings)

Endangered Species Bug Bites, Smooth Dark Chocolate 72% Cocoa Review


Endangered Species Bug Bites, Smooth Dark Chocolate 72% Cocoa Review

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (from 15 consumer ratings)

Should we say, it’s delicious education? That’s what we thought. Learning about all sorts of beneficial insects via educational full-color info trading cards featuring major at-risk insects tucked inside each delicious Bug Bite.

Eating these brought our childhood memories which we hold so dearly and felt like we are still kids at heart. Very fruity, with some apricot and cherry notes to it, and then it was melting with a nice creamy texture. At the end, it had a hint of bitterness that wasn’t too dry.

Good for Easter, Halloween or Christmas, or use it at any event that seems appropriate. This is also a good way to be in control of your dark chocolate intake if you tend to go overboard with chocolate bars.

10% of Endangered Species chocolate’s net profits, donated annually to support wildlife preservation. Made with ethically traded and sustainably-grown cocoa.

Equal Exchange Organic Chocolate 55% Dark Minis Review


Equal Exchange Organic Chocolate 55% Dark Minis Review

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (from 31 consumer ratings)

It has a nice fruity taste, being good tasting and sweet, but not overwhelmingly sweet or like many dark chocolates not bitter as well. Certainly not an extra dark chocolate, more of a semi-sweet, delicious and rich tasting flavor. We felt the melt to be creamy and velvety and at one point it actually seemed juicy in the mouth to boot!

You can also enjoy the ability to have just one or two pieces rather than tempting to overeat whole chocolate bars, helping you be in control of your chocolate intake.

The fun little size of these mini bars makes it a joyful snack/treat for many occasions. Besides using for Easter, Halloween or Christmas, we can recommend as an event giveaway, at the office for personal use, entertain colleagues and guests or any other special occasion.


We hope this review helped you to know the top quality dairy-free vegan chocolate brands available and see the variety of options you’ve got. Keep trying different brands & types of vegan chocolates according to your taste, mood and as part of a balanced healthy diet (dark chocolates)!

Dairy-Free Vegan Chocolate Brands Review

Image credits: Endangered Species, Green & Black’s, Lindt, Newman’s Own Organics, Equal Exchange, Trader Joe, Raaka, Alter Eco, Plamil, Moo Free, Enjoy Life, Vivani, Booja Booja, and Chocolove

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: reviews, vegan chocolate

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