Chocolate is a delicious and indulgent treat, but for some people, it's not always an option. This is because many chocolate products contain soy, a legume that some people are allergic to. But now, there are soy-free chocolate products available on the market, so everyone can enjoy this sweet snack.
In this article, we'll take a look at what makes soy-free chocolate different from regular chocolate, and we'll recommend some of our favorite brands.
Chocolate
Chocolate is a sweet, edible product that is made from the cocoa bean. The cocoa bean is roasted and then ground into a paste. The paste is mixed with sugar and other ingredients to make the chocolate that we know and love.
The chocolate bar comes in different types including dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate and each has its own unique flavor and texture.
Dark Chocolate
Dark Chocolate is made from cocoa beans, sugar, and cocoa butter. It is the darkest type of chocolate and has a rich, bittersweet flavor.
Milk Chocolate
Milk Chocolate is made from cocoa beans, sugar, milk powder, and cocoa butter. It has a milder flavor than dark chocolate and a creamier texture.
White Chocolate
White Chocolate is made from cocoa butter, sugar, and milk powder. It has a sweet, vanilla flavor and a smooth texture.
What is Soy-free chocolate?
Soy-free chocolate is a type of chocolate that does not contain soy. It is made with ingredients such as cocoa butter, sugar, and milk. This means that it is safe for people who are allergic to soy, as well as those who are gluten-free or dairy-free.
Soy-free chocolate can be made from different types of cocoa beans, including dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate. It can also be made into different forms, such as bars, chips, or morsels.
What is Soy lecithin?
Lecithin is a natural product found in soybeans. It is often extracted from soybeans to use as an additive in food products.
Soy lecithin can be used to add texture, prevent ingredients from separating, or prolong the shelf life of a food item.
Lecithin is a controversial ingredient because some people believe that it can cause health problems.
Why is there Soy in chocolate?
Soy is often used in chocolate products because it is a cheap and versatile ingredient. It can be added as a filler or as a sweetener. Soy also helps to improve the texture and shelf life of chocolate products.
It can be used to add protein, fat, and sweetness to chocolate, which helps to make it more affordable and flavorful. In some chocolate products, soy is used as a substitute for cocoa butter.
In general, soy-free chocolate is more expensive than regular chocolate because it contains more ingredients. This increases the cost of production and distribution.
Some chocolate companies use soy lecithin in their products because it's less expensive than other emulsifiers, such as sunflower lecithin or palm oil.
Why avoid Soy?
Soy is a controversial ingredient because some people believe that it can cause health problems. Some of the potential problems attributed to soy include:
- Soy may contain harmful phytoestrogens that can disrupt hormone balance in both men and women.
- Soy may increase the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer.
- Soy may damage the thyroid gland and contribute to hypothyroidism.
- Soy may reduce fertility and increase the risk of miscarriage.
- Soy may cause digestive problems, such as gas, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.
- Soy may increase the risk of food allergies and asthma.
There are plenty of reasons to avoid soy. It's one of the most heavily genetically modified crops in the world, it's high in estrogen-like compounds, and it can be hard for some people to digest.
How Soy-free chocolates are made
To make soy-free chocolate, the cocoa beans are first roasted and grounded. And the sugar and milk are then added to the cocoa butter and the grounded cacao. The mixture is heated to a very high temperature, which causes the chocolate to thicken and form into a solid bar. This mixture is then poured into a mold and chilled until it sets. The soy-free chocolate just omits the step of adding soy lecithin.
Soy Lecithin is not a necessary ingredient to make chocolates. There are a few different ways to make soy-free chocolates.
One way is to use sunflower lecithin as an emulsifier. Sunflower lecithin is a natural product that is derived from sunflower seeds. It works in a similar way to soy lecithin, and it is a good option for people who are allergic to soy.
Another way to make soy-free chocolate is to use palm oil as an emulsifier. Palm oil is a vegetable oil that is derived from the fruit of the palm tree. It is a good option for people who are trying to avoid soy lecithin.
Last way is come chocolatiers completely avoid any emulsifier. Instead, they rely on natural ingredients like cocoa butter to help keep the chocolate smooth and consistent. This is the most expensive way to make soy-free chocolate, but it results in a high quality product.
Why soy-free chocolates are trending
There are a few reasons why soy-free chocolates are becoming more popular.
First, people are becoming more aware of the health risks associated with soy. There is a lot of controversy surrounding this ingredient, and many people believe that it can be harmful to human health.
Second, there is a growing demand for gluten-free and dairy-free products. Soy lecithin is often used in foods that contain gluten or dairy, so people who are allergic or intolerant to these ingredients need to avoid products that contain soy lecithin.
Third, some people believe that soy-free chocolates taste better than regular chocolate. They argue that soy lecithin can impart a bitter flavor to chocolate products, so they prefer to avoid this ingredient.
Some people may choose to eat soy-free chocolate because they are allergic to soy or they are trying to avoid eating foods that contain soy. Soy-free chocolate is also a good option for people who are vegan or have dairy allergies.
Benefits of Soy-Free Chocolate
Some people may choose to eat soy-free chocolate because they are allergic to soy or they are trying to avoid eating foods that contain soy. Soy-free chocolate is also a good option for people who are vegan or have dairy allergies.
Soy protein has received negative press recently due to its high estrogen content. However, there are many benefits of consuming soy-free chocolate. Soy-free chocolates are made with natural ingredients, and they do not contain any harmful chemicals or artificial additives.
They are also gluten-free and dairy-free, so they are a good option for people who have food allergies or intolerances. Soy-free chocolates also taste great, and they can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
The big difference between soy-free and soy lecithin is that the former does not contain any traces of soy because it is made with other types of beans or none at all.
Soy lecithin can be found in some chocolate products, but not all of them. If you are concerned about soy lecithin in your chocolate, check the ingredients list before buying a product.
Soy-free chocolate is a good option for people who are trying to avoid soy lecithin. There are three ways that chocolatiers can make soy-free chocolate: they can use a different type of bean, they can use a natural emulsifier like cocoa butter, or they can avoid using any emulsifier at all. Last way is come chocolatiers completely avoid any emulsifier.
Instead, they rely on natural ingredients like cocoa butter to help keep the chocolate smooth and consistent. This is the most expensive way to make soy-free chocolate, but it results in a high quality product. One such brand is BeeTee's Melt Chocolates.
BeeTee's Melt Chocolates
BeeTee's Melt Chocolates is a bean to bar artisan chocolate maker and the chocolates are vegan and soy-free chocolate that is made with 100% natural and honest ingredients.
The chocolates are made from single origin cacao bean made in micro batches. All the chocolates are vegan. They are also 100% gluten-free, Soy free and preservative free.
All the chocolates are made without any refined sugar and high quality raw materials. They make 72% dark chocolate with palm sugar, 54% Coconut chocolate with coconut sugar and 48% Milk Chocolate with brown sugar.
Conclusion
Soy-free chocolate is a healthy alternative to traditional chocolates. It is gluten-free and dairy-free, so it can be enjoyed by people who have food allergies or intolerances.
It also tastes great because it is made with natural ingredients. The big difference between soy-free and soy lecithin is that the former does not contain any traces of soy because it is made with other types of beans or none at all.
If you are concerned about soy lecithin in your chocolate, check the ingredients list before buying a product. Where possible, buy organic brands of dark chocolate to avoid chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers.
Visit such website to enjoy the soy free and guilt free chocolate.
