We tried the vegan Lindt truffles, here’s what we thought – and how you can get your hands on some

Despite the apparent scarceness of Lindt vegan truffles we’ve got our hands on some, and we’re putting them to the test to see if they’re really worth the hype.

Lindt’s oat milk-based Lindor chocolates launched earlier this year and were met with much excitement. However, they have proven tricky to get hold of with only certain stores in the US stocking the luxurious chocolate treats.

This fact left many wondering why the vegan chocolate balls aren’t available in the brand’s home country, Switzerland, or in any of the many Lindt outlets across Europe.

After a recent trip to America, I managed to get my hands on a pack of these elusive chocolates in a CVS pharmacy in Las Vegas.

For now, I’m testing the dark chocolate version, as the milk chocolate vegan Lindor balls were sold out in every store I tried!

How do they look?

The packaging for these chocolates is made to look more eco-friendly than the non-dairy version’s eye-catching red counterpart, but the brown paper appearance seems to be cosmetic, as the packaging has a shiny, plastic finish to it.

The outer packaging carries no information about recycling or materials used, and does not appear to be recyclable.

Inside, the truffles are individually wrapped in foils much like the non-vegan version. The wrappers are easily distinguishable from the dairy version by a flash of green leaves at the edges.

Since these chocolates are vegan, I would love to see them use recyclable cardboard boxes and compostable wrappers, as just one bag of individually wrapped chocolates creates a considerable amount of plastic waste.

Once unwrapped, the chocolates I tested were a little worse for wear – having taken a long walk in the hot Nevada desert and spent some time in lost luggage before finally making it home to the UK.

However, there are some slivers of the familiar, shiny tempered chocolate ball you would expect, and I imagine these would look much like the non-vegan version if you took better care of your chocolates than I did.

Vegan Lindt Lindor taste test

I remember Lindt balls being my favourite treat in my pre-vegan days, and Christmas just wasn’t Christmas without them. In fact, I was much easier to buy presents for back then as Lindor was always a safe bet!

So, having been burned by vegan ‘dupes’ in the past, I was fully prepared to be disappointed in these, but I was proven delightfully wrong!

I was surprised by just how smooth, sweet and creamy these were, particularly considering that these are the dark chocolate version. I can’t quite imagine just how creamy the milk chocolate version would be.

The soft inside of the Lindor is sumptuously smooth and melts in your mouth just like it should.

And Lindt hasn’t skimped out on the outer shell. This oat milk chocolate is just as rich and creamy as I remember the non-vegan Lindt chocolate being. And, despite the heat damage all but ruining the temper, there was still plenty of ‘snap’ to the chocolate as I bit through it.

The ingredients

The Lindt Lindor truffles are made from oat milk, arguably the creamiest, tastiest way to make vegan chocolate.

Overall, the ingredients list looks relatively clean, with a short list of easily identifiable ingredients.

However, the chocolates do contain palm oil and artificial flavours. But, these are not new additions for the vegan recipe as both are present in the dairy milk chocolates too.

Vegan Lindt balls are made using gluten-free oats so are suitable for gluten-free diets, however the packaging does carry a cross-contamination warning for milk and tree nuts.

The price

The cheapest you’ll find these truffles in the US is $6.29 for a 5.1 oz bag, which works out at around £3.50 per 100g. Comparatively, in the UK the non-vegan Lindor balls are usually £3.00 per 100g.

However, when shopping in more expensive tourist locations, or if importing your chocolates, the vegan Lindor are likely to cost more in the region of £4.50 per 100g.

It’s a hefty price to pay, but honestly feels worth it for how luxurious these chocolates taste.

Where to buy

At present, Lindt’s vegan Lindor truffles are only available in the US in stores such as CVS Pharmacy and Safeway stores, and are available online through the Lindt US website.

There is currently no news on when these will be available officially in the UK, but imported chocolates can be found in various independent retailers and online through the Chocolate Emporium. Just be prepared to pay a premium price for them!

The verdict

Overall, these chocolates are a luxurious treat that stays true to the original recipe, which is a refreshing change from some ‘veganised’ chocolate bars we’ve seen over recent years.

The texture is spot on to the non-vegan version with a thick and well-tempered outer chocolate shell and a super smooth middle that starts melting the moment you bite into it.

They are pricey, but high-quality vegan chocolates often are. And when bought through the Lindt website in the US these occupy a comfortable middle ground – a little more expensive than the non-vegan Lindor, but still just affordable for a luxury, giftable chocolate.

It’s unfortunate that the excessive plastic packaging and air miles involved in getting these to the UK mean that these would not make an ideal regular treat for the more ethically-minded consumer. However, the rich cocoa flavour and luxurious textures mean that these do make a wonderful vegan Christmas gift or a treat for special occasions.

Ultimately, would I buy these again? Absolutely. I’ve probably already ordered myself another bag of these ‘for Christmas’ by the time you read this.

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Featured photo © Vegan Food & Living