Trying to find chocolate without soy lecithin? It can be hard to find at conventional stores. Luckily, there are now a lot of brands that either completely soy-free, do not use soy lecithin, or do not use any lecithin at all. Read below for the full list.
What is soy lecithin?
Soy lecithin is a phospholipid, or fat, that is produced from soybeans, or more specifically, from soy oil. Soy lecithin is either used as an emulsifier or as a surfactant in food processing.
Why is soy lecithin used in chocolate?
In chocolates case, soy lecithin is used as a surfactant to lower the viscosity of chocolate to make it easier to mold and manipulate. Chocolate makers could instead use cocoa butter to lower the viscosity, but cocoa butter is expensive. So, many chocolate brands go with the cheaper alternative of soy lecithin. You’ll notice though, that there are now many health and allergy conscious brands that no longer use soy lecithin, and you’ll see cocoa butter in the ingredient list instead. Many of these brands below are small-scale brands with a focus on clean ingredients and ethical sourcing.
Chocolate without Soy Lecithin
All brands listed below are fully soy lecithin free. I did not include on this list some brands that have one product free of soy lecithin, but others with.
Alter Eco
Alter Eco’s products are completely soy free, corn free, organic, no gluten ingredients, no artificial sweeteners, no additives, and fair-trade. They have a variety of chocolate bars, truffles, and granola. I am especially a fan of their Rice Crisp Grass Fed Milk Bar and truffles.
Equal Exchange
Equal Exchange is soy-free, fair-trade, organic and gluten-free. Equal Exchange is one the pioneers in fair-trade chocolate and coffee, and their chocolate is high-quality. I especially like their Milk Chocolate Caramel Crunch and Caramelized Sugar varieties.
Mast Brothers
Mast Brothers Chocolates are free of soy, organic, non-gmo, gluten-free and have an in-house bean-to-bar production in New York. They have many unique flavors inspired by the organic pantry, such as Lavender, and Olive Oil.
Beyond Good
Beyond Good Chocolate sells single-origin, bean-to-bar Uganda and Madagascar chocolate, as well as vanilla products. The chocolate is organic, beyond fair-trade, free of gluten and soy, and uses heirloom cocoa varieties. Some bars contain sunflower lecithin, while others have no emulsifiers at all.
Fruition Chocolate Works
Fruition Chocolate Works makes high-quality, small-batch craft chocolate without the use of soy lecithin. I am particularly fond of their Brown Butter Milk bar.
365 by Whole Foods Market
This simple 365 by Whole Foods Market chocolate bar doesn’t have soy lecithin, or use any emulsifier for that matter. It also is fair-trade, and organic, and is conveniently available at most Whole Foods stores. Whole Foods doesn’t seem to make any other types or flavors, though. Also, beware, because 365 by Whole Foods Market chocolate chips do have soy lecithin.
Enjoy Life Foods
Enjoy Life Foods makes products free from tree nuts, dairy, peanuts, egg, soy, sesame, wheat, casein, sulfites, lupin, mustard, fish, shellfish, and crustaceans. They have very good plain bars, and also chocolate chips and chunks for baking.
Divine
Divine chocolate is made with fair trade cocoa from farmers in Ghana. Divine chocolate does not use soy lecithin, but they do use sunflower lecithin in some products.
Artisan Kettle Organic Chocolate
Artisan Kettle chocolate is organic, fair-trade, gmo-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free. They do, however, use sunflower lecithin in some products.
Dr. Bronner’s
Dr. Bronner’s may be known for their iconic body soap, but they also make high-quality, organic, fair-trade, and soy lecithin-free chocolate bars. They do not use soy or sunflower lecithin, but they do say they may be produced in a facility with soy.
Milkboy Swiss Chocolates
Milkboy Swiss Chocolates are made with only UTZ Certified cocoa, and they are soy-free, gluten-free, and non-gmo. The chocolate is also made without palm oil, corn syrup, or artificial ingredients. The chocolate does contain sunflower lecithin. I am particularly fond of the Alpine Milk Chocolate Bars with Roasted Almonds.
K’UL Chocolate
K’UL Chocolate has bean-to-bar chocolate that is soy-free, gluten-free, organic, fair-trade, and non-gmo. Their mission is to support women’s associations and small organic farmers. The bars have a unique resealable package, and such flavors as Peppermint Crunch and Wild Ginger and Cayenne.
Evolved
Evolved chocolate is soy-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, and cane sugar free. They make paleo, keto, and vegan treats sweetened with coconut sugar. They even make Keto Snickerdoodle Filled Mylk Chocolate.
Theo Chocolate
Theo Chocolate is completely soy-free, non-gmo, organic, and fair trade. They have many classic flavors in bars at a good price point, and they even make soy-free peanut butter cups!
Fine & Raw
Fine & Raw bars are half roasted and half raw cacao. They are soy-free, refined sugar-free, ethically sourced, organic, bean-to-bar and gluten-free. They even make a soy-lecithin free Chocolate Hazelnut Butter Spread!
Raaka Chocolate
Raaka Chocolate uses unroasted cacao beans to produce a unique tasting bar that is soy-free, gluten-free and vegan. They are organic, and use transparent trade practices, too. Raaka Chocolate also has many unique flavors such as Bananas Foster, and Green Tea Crunch.
Goodio Chocolate
With bold, graphic packaging, Goodio Chocolate is a Finish chocolatier that pairs Finish ingredients with high quality raw cacao to produce special, refined white sugar and soy free bars. Many of the bars are vegan, and all are tempered at low temperatures to retain nutrients. Some very unique flavors include Licorice and Sea Buckthorn and Chai.
Taza Chocolate
Taza Chocolate is inspired by Mexican chocolate making traditions, as they use stone-ground cacao. It is organic, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, and vegan. The chocolate has a satisfyingly gritty, unique texture.
Elements Truffles
What sets Elements Truffles chocolate apart is that they are micro-batch made and are ayurveda inspired. They are also soy-free, paleo, dair-free, organic, gluten-free and non-gmo. Many are raw and sweetened with honey, too. Elements Truffles has very unique flavor combinations such as Lemon Coconut with Tulsi and Black Lava with Turmeric.
Hu
Hu chocolate is organic, certified paleo, dairy-free, soy lecithin-free, and uses coconut sugar instead of fake sweeteners or refined sugar. Their dark chocolate is very rich and satisfying.
GoodSam
GoodSam is a no sugar added chocolate company that uses allulose as a sweetener. They do not use soy lecithin, but they do use sunflower lecithin. The chocolate is vegan, non-gmo and supports regenerative farming.
Unreal
Unreal specializes in candies that are reminiscent of junk food favorites. The chocolate candies are fair-trade, have no soy ingredients, no artificial flavors, and no sugar alcohols. They have peanut butter cups, almond butter cups, candy coated chocolate gems, and chocolate covered coconut bars.
Is there soy in Hershsey’s Chocolate?
There is soy lecithin in most Hershey’s Chocolate products. But, there does not appear to be any soy lecithin in the Hershey’s Organic line.
Does Lindt Chocolate have soy?
Soy lecithin is in all Lindt chocolate products except for the Excellence 85%, 90%, 95%, 99% and 100% bars.
Does Cadbury Chocolate contain soy?
Most Cadbury chocolates contain soy lecithin or other soy products. Some products available in the UK may not have soy.
Lindt 70 doesn’t contain soy
Lindt 70% definitely does contain soy lecithin; see their nutrition info here: https://www.lindtusa.com/wcsstore/LindtCatalogAssetStore/Attachment/products/nutritional/nutritional-information-SKU-392825.pdf
Great list, thanks for being helpful! Do you know of any ruby chocolate – either treats for eating or chips or couverture for confectionery and baking – that does not contain soy?
Hi there! Unfortunately I wasn’t able to find any ruby chocolate without soy.