There are over 2 million children working on cocoa plantations in Ghana and Ivory Coast alone, more than 500,000 of them working under abusive conditions.” (Source: Tulane report 2015). This doesn’t mean that these companies are actively promoting child-labor, it’s just that their inability to trace and solve these issues is quite worrying. In short, cocoa powder is vegan if the ingredient list includes only cocoa powder. However, not all cocoa powders are created equal, and that’s where it gets a bit more complicated. To ensure that you are purchasing a vegan cocoa powder, read on to learn more about this ingredient. What is cocoa powder? Viva Naturals Organic Cocoa Powder. USDA-certified organic, Non-GMO Project verified and contains just one ingredient: organic cocoa powder. Fairtrade is a concept that guarantees a minimum price for commodities so that workers in developing countries are paid more than they would otherwise be able to earn. Even if the price of these commodities falls, they’re still paid a minimum guaranteed price for their products, providing them a basic safety net.

It took me a few tries to get this recipe exactly how I wanted it. I made them as fudgy as I could but there was a limit to how far I could push the fat to flour ratio without the brownies falling apart. These cocoa powder brownies are soft and fudgy on the inside with a slightly chewy/crispy top. They don’t have that classic shiny papery crust that my other brownies do, but they are just as delicious, and a lot easier to make! Best chocolate chips for brownies Clinical evidence suggests that natural cocoas are high in flavanols, but when the cocoa beans are treated with alkali, also known as Dutch processing or Dutching, the flavanols are substantially reduced.Despite these alterations, the cocoa powder still remains vegan. Potential Cross-Contamination Add 120g of vegan margarine to a small bowl. Pop it in the microwave in 15 second bursts until completely melted. Set it aside for a few minutes to cool down a little. Step 3: Cacao powder is the most pure and natural form of cocoa powder and retains the most nutrients, vitamins and enzymes. However, it also has the strongest and most bitter flavor. If you want to keep your recipe vegan friendly, you can swap the agave nectar for maple syrup (which is also great if you are looking for a chocolate recipe suitable for IBS, as agave nectar is very high FODMAP, whereas maple syrup is low FODMAP). If you are not worried about keeping this recipe strictly vegan, you can also swap the agave nectar for honey or other suitable liquid sugar. Can I use real sugar instead of the liquid sugar?In a more dangerous scenario, if you’re someone with an allergy, you need to be double careful since a lot of the cocoa is harvested in mixed plantations where fruits like avocados and nuts also grow. I’m definitely in the fudgy camp. I do love a good cakey brownie too but in my opinion, the chewy, gooey fudgy texture is what makes a brownie a brownie and not a cake. I do plan to create a cakey brownie in the future for those of you who prefer them but for now, it’s fudgy brownie time! When cocoa butter (also called cacao butter) the fat from the cacao beans is removed, the leftover solids of the bean are processed into a powder. Cocoa powder is in essence cocoa solids.

Nativas Organic Cocoa Powder. This product comes from a small business and is fair-trade certified, protecting farmers, workers and the planet. A while ago, I shared my best ever vegan brownies recipe which is one of my favourites. But I soon found out that the results of those can differ depending on the type of chocolate that’s used. If you want to stay more in tune with the nature, I would recommend using various spices, which blend beautifully into chocolate and create a great flavour. I often use cinnamon, sweet chilli, mixed spice or pepper to compliment my chocolate. Always make sure it’s finely ground and add only a bit at the time. It’s easy to get carried away and your chocolate would be easily spoiled. What about dried fruit – can I add it to my vegan chocolate?

Is Cocoa Powder Always Vegan?

Naturya cacao powder comes from a Fairtrade supplier in Africa who sources the finest quality cacao beans from the very best farming cooperatives around. These cacao beans go through a stringent fermentation process and are left out in the sun to dry out and lose some of their original bitterness. In this article, I’m going to go over potential exceptions to this rule, as well as provide you with two additional reasons that compel a limited number of vegans to avoid consuming cocoa powder, unless it’s from a brand with higher moral and ethical standards. Is Cocoa Powder Always Vegan? It’s possible to make vegan milk chocolate, but you would need one crutial ingredient – a milk powder. You can of course use a coconut milk instead of cow’s milk, but it does need to be in a powdered form. Why not stay in touch…

Ready to put that cocoa powder to good use with some decadent vegan recipes? These are sure to satisfy those chocolate cravings: Preheat your oven to 180°C/350°F (or 160°C/325°F if you’re using a fan or convection oven). Line an 8×10-inch tin with baking paper, leaving some hanging over the edges for easy removal later on. Step 2: Organic cacao powder is rich in magnesium and copper, which both contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism in the bodyWhat would we do without cocoa? It’s the source of much-loved candy bars, drinks, and any number of tasty chocolate-based recipes. But is cocoa powder vegan? Cocoa powder, on the other hand, contains primarily cocoa solids and a very small percentage of cocoa butter with no additional ingredients. In conclusion, pure cocoa powder is always vegan. Dutch Process VS Broma Process