Oh it's coming soon!
Easter, I mean!
And the Great Big Dairy Free Easter Hunt has already begun!!
Last year I left it a bit late, so this year I'm trying to give folks advance notice! For those who think I'm too early, well Easter is earlier this year and as the Daily Mail noted the other week, free from Easter eggs have already hit the shelves of some Sainsbury's stores!
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| Looks like Sainsbury's packaging remains the same, this year! |
And, as I spotted this week, Asda's Easter bunny has been just a little busy too! Other stores will undoubtedly follow suit soon, but panic ye not, if your Sainsbury's or Asda has yet to deliver - there are other options that will become available to you sooner or later, so this year's post, is going to try and give you some idea of what to look out for!
Further updates will be brought to you via our Facebook page 'Dairy Free Baby and Me' or Twitter and hopefully will eventually make their way onto this post, so keep your eyes peeled!
In the Shops:
Back again this year are the handy tables, that proved so useful last year - hopefully from these you will be able to see which chocolates are likely to prove best for you!
Dairy Free
|
Gluten Free
|
Soya Free
|
Nut Free
|
Vegan
|
|
Booja
Booja
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
-
|
Y
|
Choices/
Supermarket
own
|
Y
|
Y
|
Soya Lecithin
|
Y
|
Y
|
Kinnerton
|
Y
|
Y
|
Soya Lecithin
|
Y
|
Y
|
Moo
Free
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
May contain
|
Y
|
Plamil
|
Y
|
Y
|
May Contain
|
Y
|
Y
|
Please note:
'Y' means 'yes'
'N' means 'no'
'Soya lecithin' has been indicated specifically, as most people allergic to soya are supposed to be okay with the lecithin which has had the allergenic part (the protein) removed. However, this is not the case for all, so if in doubt, always check with your HCP (healthcare professional).
'May contain' tends to indicate that this product has been made in a factory which uses a certain product e.g. milk/nuts.
Some stores have yet to stock their eggs, but as the Sainsbury's and Asda selections for this year look incredibly similar to last year, I'm predicting the following:
Choices and Supermarket own brands
(Choices, under the umbrella company of Celtic Chocolates also make the supermarket 'own' brand eggs)
A great dairy free 'milk' chocolate brand, from Ireland. They have their usual offerings available, some larger, some small, with the option of a 'white chocolate' egg and 'milk' and 'white chocolate bunnies'.
 |
| Great value! |
They have a dark chocolate egg too. However, although they're widespread some of the packaging might vary, as most of the supermarket own brands are just the same, but with their own pretty packaging on top.
 |
| Asda's look exactly the same as last year! The price is the same, too! |
Small White Egg
|
Small Milk Choc.Egg
|
Milk Egg with Choc. Disc
|
Milk Egg with Caramels
|
Dark Choc. Egg
|
Choc. Bunny
|
|
Asda
|
-
|
-
|
*£3.00
|
-
|
-
|
£0.99
|
Tesco
|
-
|
£2.50
|
WhiteChoc
£3.00 |
-
|
-
|
£1.00
|
Morrison’s
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Sainsbury’s
|
*£2.50
|
-
|
*£3.50
|
£3.50
|
£3.50
|
£1.00
|
Waitrose
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Ocado
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Holland
& Barrett
|
£2.79
|
£2.79
|
£4.99
|
£6.49
|
£4.99
|
£1.25
(white only) |
TKMaxx
|
Y
|
*Supermarket
‘own brand’
'Y' indicates that I think they will stock it, from what they've done in previous years.
Prices supplied where known, other prices will be added as they become known. It's interesting to note that Asda have kept to the same prices as last year, whereas Sainsbury's seem to have gone up by 1p each!
Moo Free Chocolates:
A very popular choice of 'milk' chocolate for dairy free chocolate lovers, this company's profile has just grown and grown! Their organic medium size egg come in four flavours: Original, Bunnycomb (honeycomb) and Orange.
This year their packaging has obviously had a revamp!
Moo Free Milk Chocolate
|
Moo Free Orange Flavour
|
Moo Free Bunnycomb
|
|
Asda
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Tesco
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Morrison’s
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Sainsbury’s
|
£4.00
|
-
|
-
|
Waitrose
|
£4.25
|
£4.25
|
£4.25
|
Ocado
|
£3.99
|
£3.99
|
£3.99
|
Holland & Barrett |
£4.99
|
£4.99
|
£4.99
|
Holland and Barrett tend to price Moo Free eggs higher to begin with, but may suddenly add in a seasonal offer later, which may work out cheaper, but this is a bit of a gamble. Theirs are only available online at the mo.
Kinnerton:
Kinnerton produce a dark style dairy free chocolate. Speaking as someone who prefers milk chocolate, this one is fairly easy on the palate.
 |
| No change here, then! |
Kinnerton Dark Chocolate Egg
|
Kinnerton Dark Chocolate
Bunny
|
|
Asda
|
*
|
*
|
Tesco
|
Y
|
Y
|
Morrison’s
|
-
|
-
|
Sainsbury’s
|
£6.00
|
-
|
Waitrose
|
-
|
-
|
Ocado
|
-
|
Y
|
Holland & Barrett |
-
|
-
|
Home Bargains |
Y
|
-
|
*available last year, but not yet spotted this year, although other eggs are on their shelves
Mark's and Spencer also stocked this egg, last year, but in their own packaging. See here:
 |
| You'd never know it was the same egg, from the packaging! |
Curiously though, they did not claim it was nut free, as Kinnerton do with theirs! Most confusing!
Booja Booja:
Definitely a luxury brand, and not so widely available, these are usually quite a bit more expensive. For your money to get a hand crafted papier mache egg, which encases the most delicious chocolate truffles.
 |
| A touch of class |
Large Booja Booja Egg
|
Small Booja Booja Egg
|
|
Asda
|
-
|
-
|
Tesco
|
-
|
-
|
Morrison’s
|
-
|
-
|
Sainsbury’s
|
-
|
-
|
Waitrose
|
-
|
-
|
Ocado
|
£24.99
|
£9.99
|
Holland
& Barrett
|
-
|
£9.99
|
Plamil:
Made with organic chocolate, until fairly recently, they were only available online (via Plamil's online shop, or online Free From or Vegan sites) or in independent health food stores, these are now usually available through Holland and Barrett, where they are £3.99.
Plamil now also usually make an own brand egg for Holland and Barrett, for exactly the same price, just different packaging!
 |
| Cute packaging! |
Plamil make an Easter bunny(£12,5 at Holland & Barrett) as well as a packet of mini chocolate halves (£5.99 from Holland & Barrett) which are perfect for Easter egg hunts, especially when they're encased in plastic eggs from Poundland!
Online Brands:
If you can't find the chocolate you want locally, there are places to look online. Check out the following brands:
Ayni
Ayni's range is all handmade raw chocolate, which is dairy, gluten, nut and soya free and suitable for Vegans. I haven't tried it, so can't vouch for the quality, although Umm assures me it is lovely, but last year there was plenty of choice on the website. This year's offerings are here.
Cocoa Libre
This chocolate I have tried and can vouch for! They are very yummy indeed!! A full review of what I made of them can be found by following this link. No Easter eggs as such but last year they brought out some Easter chicks to add to their little lambs!
You can buy Cocoa Libre online from their website, or through the stockists listed on their website, see here. Some of Cocoa Libre's range can also be bought online from Holland and Barrett.
D and D Chocolates
From what I understand, their chocolate is supplied by Plamil, so meets the same standard. Their range is great for any dairy free Easter egg hunts. You can view it here.
These small solid chocolate eggs (they had new packaging last year) have proved very useful in the past!
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| We love these! |
For those who prefer it, they also do a range of carob.
Lots of this None of that
Not a brand I've tried, but available through Holland and Barrett. They're actually also made by Plamil, but this time absolutely soya free. I notice they have brought out a chocolate bunny for £1.25
Online Stores:
There are a number of online shops that stock dairy free Easter eggs, some of which have already mentioned, along with a few other tasty treats. These stores include:
Just be aware when buying dairy free chocolate from online Vegan stores that although some chocolate labelled Vegan will be suitable for those with milk allergies, you do have to watch out if you are severely allergic, as some Vegan chocolate is made on the same lines as normal milk chocolate, and therefore 'may contain milk'. Such chocolate may cause reactions in those who are very sensitive.
And finally...
If you're not milk allergic, or don't need to worry about 'may contain', then you may be okay with brands such as Montezuma's, Hotel Chocolat or check out the dark chocolate from Divine and Green and Blacks.
 |
| Made without dairy but not suitable for those with milk allergy |
Please note:
This post is not an advert. I have not been paid to write this post. I am not sponsored in any way, even by advertising. I do not receive products free to review, although I have often been offered them. This is to try and maintain an unbiased approach. All views expressed are my own (unless I've asked for The Hub's or Kiddo's).
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Great work, as always!
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