vegan love from across the pond

Clockwise from top left,  Mini Moos Dairy-Free Milk Chocolate with Banana Chips,  Chili and Lime Extra Dark Chocolate, Booja Booja Truffles and Mini Moos "Milk" Chocolate with Honeycomb,

Part of the fun of traveling is sampling new vegan treats that you can't get at home. Thanks to my friend, Sue, who lives in the UK, I only had to travel as far as my mail room to access a  box of British plant-based yumminess. Doing a vegan food swap was Sue's idea. She had been dying to try Peanut Butter and Company's Dark Chocolate Dreams [my personal favorite], which she can't get in England. And every time she mentioned Booja Booja Truffles, my mouth would water all over my keyboard. And so our swap was born.

My favorite item in Sue's box, hands-down, though, was the Mini Moos Dairy Free Milk Chocolate Bar  – creamy vegan milk chocolate studded with dried banana chips. On paper, it sounds "meh," and I never even liked non-vegan milk chocolate. But this bar was surpringly luscious with a depth of flavor and texture lacking in dairy milk chocolate. The crunchy banana chips were a fun alternative to nuts. The Booja Booja Truffles were also winners – silky, rich and decadent.

More chocolate! A Free From Belgian Dark Chocolate Tiffin and an OM Bar Probiotic Coconut Chocolate Bar. The Free From chocolate squares reminded me of fudge – cloyingly good and a little bit goes a long way. And of course, I love anything coconut, especially with a side of gut-loving probiotics.

Sue also sent a whole slew of Nakd products. The flavored raisins taste eerily candy-like; it was deliciously strange eating a lime-flavored raisin. [Finally, an all-natural Frankenfood!] I loved the cherry especially and would buy them if they sold them in the US. The bars are made with fruits and nuts and are reminiscent of Larabars. Rhubarb Custard was the best of the bunch.

On the savory side, Sue included a Sea Salt and Cider Vinegar Nut Mix, spicy Reggae Reggae Peanuts and Cashews and a tin of Shiitake Pâté. You can't go wrong with any flavored nuts or vegan pâtés – all were quite tasty.

Of course, Sue also sent "food" for my face, via 3 masks: Anti-Stress, Hot Chocolate and Very Berry. I was tickled to get these; I love a good facial mask but am usually too cheap...er....frugal to indulge, but this is a good reminder to take time to pamper yourself. Masks a great way to relax and give your skin a thoroughly good cleanse.

Sue, your package is on the way, complete with Dark Chocolate Dreams and some other American and Pennsylvania surprises. I hope you like my choices!

Chocolate love from Taniwha's Nadège

The universe must have known I was desperately in need of indulgence. As if getting a box of British vegan sweets was not enough fun, later in the same week, my friend Nadège from France sent me these 2 luxurious chocolate bars. Nadège runs the fabulous Francophone ad agency, Taniwha, and she does work for both French- and English-speaking clients. More importantly, Nadège is truly an angel for the animals. She has rescued countless dogs and cats, and does much on the Taniwha blog to promote animal welfare and veganism. [Check out her interview with me in English and French]. Nadège, you will be receiving an American surprise in the coming weeks!