Lactose-free chocolate is made without milk or derivatives and is a viable option for those with lactose intolerance. Dark chocolate, custom chocolate, cocoa powder, and carob are all lactose-free options, but it’s important to read labels and consult a professional for severe cases.
Lactose-free chocolate is chocolate made without milk or derivatives. Some people may choose to eat lactose-free chocolate because they love the taste of chocolate but suffer from lactose intolerance. People who are lactose intolerant suffer from painful gastrointestinal problems if they consume lactose, a kind of sugar found in dairy products. Dark chocolate, semi-sweet, and custom chocolate mixes are all found in lactose-free forms, even though the same forms also contain lactose. Carob, while not technically chocolate, can also be a substitute for lactose-free chocolate.
Dark chocolate is a form of chocolate typically made without milk solids, often making it a viable option for many lactose intolerant chocolate lovers. This type of chocolate contains more cocoa solids than milk chocolate, so it tends to taste slightly bitter. People who enjoy the bitter richness of dark chocolate may choose to eat a dark chocolate bar with a high percentage of cocoa solids to experience the deeper taste.
There are other lactose-free chocolate options for people who don’t like the taste of dark chocolate. Custom chocolate is now available in many health food stores and specialty stores. This chocolate is made without dairy, eggs, gluten or nuts. This substitute for the typical milk chocolate is usually made from ingredients such as sugar, vanilla extract, chocolate liqueur, and cocoa butter. The lactose-free chocolate formula can be used in the preparation of typical chocolate bars and sweet treats such as ice cream.
Cocoa powder is also a lactose-free chocolate. This is not to be confused with the hot cocoa mixture, which often has powdered milk – and, therefore, lactose – added to increase the creamy texture once the mixture is added to the water. Unlike hot cocoa mix, cocoa powder is usually dairy-free and lactose-free, making it useful in creating chocolate cakes, chocolate frostings, and chocolate sauces, among other recipes from scratch. It can also be used to make lactose-free hot cocoa, simply by processing the cocoa with a lactose-free milk or milk substitute.
Another alternative to milk chocolate is carob. Carob bars and chips look and taste like chocolate, but are made with ground seeds of the carob tree. There is no lactose in carob, so it can be used as the main ingredient in a lactose-free sugar bar – as long as dairy products have not been added to the carob during processing. Carob also has much less acidity than chocolate, so it can also be a great snack for people who suffer from bladder problems and acid reflux in addition to lactose intolerance.
People who are severely lactose intolerant should read the label on all chocolate and carob products before eating them or using them in recipes. Just because one type of dark chocolate is dairy-free doesn’t mean that every dark chocolate is. Also, even if the chocolate or carob in a product like a candy bar or cookie is dairy-free, the product may still contain dairy. Checking the label is the easiest way to find out.
There are different levels of severity of lactose intolerance. Some people may enjoy milk chocolate in small doses, while others may be limited to strictly lactose-free chocolate due to severe symptoms that follow any lactose consumption. People who are unsure about which foods contain lactose should talk to a doctor or nutritionist about working out a modified diet. A trained professional can recommend low- or lactose-free alternatives to many foods, including chocolate.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
