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TCHO chocolate bars are delicious! They have a variety of plant-based flavors and are Fair Trade.

What’s New In Vegan Chocolate

Fran Costigan - What’s New In Vegan Chocolate

Recorded

This event was on March 19, 2024

Explore the fascinating. evolving and nuanced world of vegan chocolates with Chef Fran Costigan, Rouxbe Director of Vegan Pastry, and the chocolate lover behind “Vegan Chocolate: Unapologetically Luscious and Decadent Dairy-free Desserts,” as she spills the cocoa beans on the secrets of quality vegan chocolate. Chef Fran will review the definition of vegan chocolate and guide you through the criteria for choosing quality versions. Todays’ markets showcase vegan milk chocolates, fruit-flavored and even white chocolates and they are all on Chef Fran’s table today. You will learn about vegan chocolates sweetened with alternatives to cane, ethical chocolates, gluten-free and so-called raw too, in today’s lively and luscious chocolate-centric live event. Reserve your spot now for a delectable journey into the richness of vegan chocolate. Send in your questions.

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Question

Linda Byington

TCHO chocolate bars are delicious! They have a variety of plant-based flavors and are Fair Trade.?

Answer

Linda's saying Chow, you know, I never really know how to pro pronounce it's CHO. Chocolate bars are delicious. I agree with you. It's a wonderful chocolate company and they have a variety of plant-based flavors and are fair trade. So yes, I like them. And they have come out recently with more and more plant-based. You know, it's really interesting because a company like Valona, which is a French chocolate maker, they didn't, you know, they didn't speak vegan for a really long time. Um, I did a class at the Valona Academy in Dumbo in Brooklyn and um, it was some time ago, but now look at this. This is their 80% cacao chocolate noir and it says fair trade, it says vegan, it's a B Corp and all that. So you know, more and more companies are jumping in and the fact is that's because people have asked for it. We vote with our forks. So if you're concerned, if we're, you know, concerned about child labor, let the chocolate companies know it's not okay. I don't use ever Hershey's or Nestle, um, because they are notorious for using child labor. Now Hershey's I understand had said by the year, I think it was originally 2 0 2 3 and that's passed, they would stop using child labor, but they haven't. And these companies have been sued, so I'm not using them. And they do have a line of vegan non-dairy chocolates, but I personally don't buy them. I'm not judging you, you know, it's a decision for each of us to make, but I'm going to go for fair trade. The fair trade label, some people are saying is not what it used to be. There's um, it's expensive for small chocolate makers and so on, but there are other labels. Get to know the companies you're dealing with. That's the very best thing to do.

Fran Costigan

Director of Vegan Pastry

FranCostigan.com

Fran Costigan is internationally renowned as the authority on vegan desserts. Trained at the New York Restaurant School and Natural Gourmet Institute, Fran was a chef in both traditional and vegan pastry kitchens before moving into teaching over 20 years ago. A lifelong chocoholic and long time vegan, Fran’s latest book, Vegan Chocolate: Unapologetically Luscious and Decadent Dairy Free Desserts, (Running Press 2013) is for all who madly, deeply love chocolate desserts, whether or not dietary considerations are an issue. Her previous cookbook, More Great Good Dairy-Free Desserts Naturally (Book Publishing Company 2006) is the basis of the Costigan Vegan Baking Boot Camp Intensive®. For more information, www.francostigan.com.