Vegan chocolates hit the Sunshine Coast
Sat 05 June 2010
Kiera Kelly-Williamson, Bachelor of Journalism
Vegans now have something to celebrate, with a local Sunshine Coast resident releasing a new line of vegan chocolates.
Mudjimba local and founding member of Vegan Warriors Jaylene Musgrave has started up a vegan lover’s heaven of non-animal product chocolates, called Eden Chocolates.
Eden Chocolates, named after Ms Musgrave’s beloved adopted dingo-husky cross, includes organic ingredients which she says makes the vegan chocolate smoother, with a scrumptious taste.
Ms Musgrave, who has been a vegan for the last three years and a vegetarian since her early teenage years, believes that being a vegan does not necessarily mean sacrificing the tasty foods everyone loves.
“I decided to use my knowledge of Veganism and my love of chocolate and start experimenting,” Ms Musgrave said.
“My taste testers were my non-vegan friends and family as I wanted my chocolates to stand up against the best.
“I didn’t want them to be known just as vegan chocolates but as mouthwatering and unique.
“I wanted to let the world know that being vegan doesn’t mean sacrificing taste.”
As a publicist by trade, Ms Musgrave knows how to spread word of her products, and already has a flood of requests from Sunshine Coast residents placing their orders.
“I have been contacted by so many people throughout Australia, and even overseas in Bangkok and India, wanting to order my chocolates,” Ms Musgrave said.
“Some of these people aren’t even vegan, but have advised the more they find out about where food comes from, the less they want to do with eating animal products.
“We are destroying our planet at a despicable and alarming rate, and the only thing that will stop us is for [people] to be eradicated or for people to become vegan.
“I sleep easy at night knowing that everyday I have not contributed to the torture and enslavement of my fellow creatures.”
Starting up a business such as the one Ms Musgrave is conducting is costly, however she chose to fund the endeavor herself.
“My philosophy has always been to follow my dreams,” Ms Musgrave said.
“I have never done anything for the money, but I know that we will be a success because of the amazing feedback I have been receiving from my customers.
“This just reiterates to me that I’m on the right track.
“Any money I do make from the chocolates goes straight back into my animal rights campaigning.”
Having travelled around the United Kingdom and experiencing the wide range of vegan food accessible, Ms Musgrave was overjoyed at the selection of vegan foods available.
“Linda McCartney, Paul McCartney's widow, started one of the first vegan companies making ‘meat’ pies, ‘sausage’ rolls, ‘chicken’ schnitzel and some of the yummiest deserts a girl could ask for,” Ms Musgrave said.
“Coming back to Australia was a real let down in terms of how far behind we are, so that’s why I decided to start up Eden Chocolate.”
Vegan Sunshine Coast resident Jamie Cross believes that Ms Musgrave’s new line of chocolate is a fantastic idea.
“I have been a vegan for the last five years, and it’s hard to give up the delicious deserts you used to eat all the time,” Ms Cross said.
“The idea of a vegan chocolate line is heavenly, especially because there are no dairy products being used at all.
“I will definitely be ordering in chocolates from her for myself, my vegan friends and my non-vegan friends.”
Ms Musgrave believes that her chocolate range will appeal to all chocolate lovers, whether vegan or not.
“I seem to come up with a different type of chocolate to add to the range constantly but I have had to rein myself in and not get too ahead of myself,” Ms Musgrave said.
At present the chocolates have a wide range of nine flavours, including Macadamia Krunchy, Rum n Raisin Krunchy, Cookies n Cream Krunchy, Cherry Kripe Krunchy, Ginger and Macadamia Krunchy, Peanut Butter Krunchy, Spearmint Krunchy, Freckled Krunchy and Rainbow Flavour Liquorices.
All are available in white, dark or milk chocolate.
“I hope that people realise from Eden Chocolates that going vegan isn’t as bad as people make it out to be,” Ms Musgrave said.
“All the delicious foods you eat now, you can still have without all the animal products included in the recipe.”
Image(s) designed by Kiera Kelly-Williamson