People in the U.S. consume an estimated 2.8 billion pounds of chocolate annually. With more people adopting plant-based diets, a large percentage of that chocolate is vegan. (BestReviews)

If the crumbly texture, bland taste and unsatisfying mouthfeel put you off vegan chocolate, chances are good you haven't tried it lately. With more people following a vegan diet, companies have responded by making some of the world's most delicious chocolate — vegan or not.

If you are looking for an authentic chocolate taste, Enjoy Life Semisweet Chocolate Mini-Chips are a great choice. These miniature chips can be used in baking or snacked on right out of the bag. 

The percentage of cacao influences the bitterness of your vegan chocolate. The more cacao in the chocolate, the less room there is for other ingredients such as sugar, plant-based milk or flavorings.

Vegan or not, there are two main types of chocolate: dark and milk.

Another type of chocolate, rose chocolate, has a pink color and a delicate citrus undertone. This is not a common type of vegan chocolate.

As for white chocolate, this is not technically chocolate at all as there is no cacao in it. The addition of milk solids means that it’s usually not vegan.

This tasty vegan snack is available in many different forms, including:

Like with many of the world's gourmet ingredients, it's important to know where your food comes from and if it is produced fairly. Ethically sourced cacao provides a living wage and a fair market price to cacao farmers across the globe.

If in addition to a vegan diet you are also avoiding other common allergens, check the label of your vegan chocolate. It should be free from:

Another benefit to vegan chocolate is that it may have less sugar than its traditional counterparts. While this is not always the case, the higher the percentage of cacao, the more likely it is to have less sugar.

Chocolate prices vary wildly. Because there are so many different options for the form of chocolate, the cost ranges from $6-$50. This covers everything from a bag of chocolate-covered pretzels to a 5-pound bag of vegan baking chips.

A. Chocolate is naturally vegan, but the difference is in the milk powder or solids added when the cacao beans are made into chocolate.

A. Chocolate comes in different types that can be used in different culinary applications.

Enjoy Life Semisweet Chocolate Mini-Chips: available at Amazon

Our take: This 5-pound bag of mini chips satisfies your chocolate cravings and is perfect for baking and snacking.

What we like: Made from just three ingredients, these chips are also free from the most common allergens, including nuts, soy, gluten, peanuts and tree nuts. They are non-GMO verified and kosher.

What we dislike: This packaging does not hold up well in high temperatures. Order extra in cooler months.

Nutiva Organic Vegan Hazelnut Spread: available at Amazon

Our take: If you have missed the creamy taste of Nutella on your morning toast, this is a great substitution.

What we like: This spread uses real cocoa plus other healthy ingredients such as flaxseed flour, coconut oil and chia seed oil. It is also available in dark chocolate. It has 40% less sugar than the other leading brand.

What we dislike: This product is manufactured on shared equipment. This means that there may be traces of dairy. If you are allergic to dairy products, use caution.

Snackers Only Store Peanut Butter Bites Topped with Chocolate Coating: available at Amazon

Our take: These tasty vegan treats are individually wrapped for snacking on the go.

What we like: They are gluten-free peanut butter rice crispy treats covered in vegan chocolate. They don't have high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Whole grain brown rice bumps up the protein to 2 grams per bar. Counting calories? Each bar has just 100 calories and 4 grams of fat.

What we dislike: Some people thought these tasted more like an energy bar than a chocolate treat.

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Suzannah Kolbeck is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.

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