Finding chocolate that works for dairy, gluten or soy sensitivities can take more effort than it should. Walking supermarket aisles, checking labels, visiting health food shops and trawling online for an option that ticks every box can feel like a lot - especially when seasonal novelty chocolates appear around Easter and Christmas.
At Biome, all of our delicious chocolate is palm oil free, dairy free and vegan, with many options also suitable for those avoiding gluten and soy. Below, we share our favourite inclusive chocolate options that suit a range of dietary needs - all available in Australia and chosen with ingredients and sourcing in mind.
If you’d like to explore the wider picture — from ingredient choices to sourcing and ethics — you can read our thoughtful guide to vegan and ethical chocolate in Australia.
Gluten-free chocolate
Chocolate is made from cocoa beans and is naturally gluten-free, but it is often mixed with ingredients that do contain gluten (like biscuit bits or wafer), or when it’s made on shared equipment that processes wheat. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye, so manufacturing methods matter just as much as ingredients.
Is vegan chocolate gluten-free?
Often — but not automatically. Vegan chocolate made simply from cacao, cocoa butter and sugar contains no gluten, though fillings, flavourings and cross-contamination can change that.
There are many excellent gluten-free vegan chocolates available, with some chocolate makers avoiding gluten entirely, both in their recipes and in how their chocolate is produced, making it much easier to choose with confidence - particularly for coeliac requirements.
Bennetto chocolate is certified gluten-free by Coeliac Society New Zealand, offering additional reassurance for those managing coeliac disease or strict gluten avoidance.
House of Nestar also produces some delicious chocolates and Australian-made gluten-free lollies.
Explore the full range of gluten-free chocolate
* Always check packaging to confirm suitability for coeliac requirements, as ingredients and manufacturing practices can change.
Dairy-free chocolate
Dairy commonly appears in chocolate as milk powder, butterfat or whey and can also be hidden in fillings, flavourings or cream-style centres - even in products that otherwise look like dark chocolate.
There is a now a wide range of dairy-free chocolate made in Australia and internationally, with many producers choosing to work in small batches and focus on quality cacao and minimal ingredients, rather than dairy substitutes.
Our long-standing favourite is Loco Love chocolate an Australian brand creating plant-based chocolate with superfoods, tonic herbs and spices, in flavours such as peanut butter caramel, wild orange ganache, black cherry raspberry and hazelnut praline. Their range is also gluten-free, soy-free and refined sugar-free, which can be helpful for those managing multiple sensitivities. BSKT Wholefoods also makes dairy-free chocolate that is soy-free and gluten-free, using simple, wholefood ingredients and thoughtful recipes that appeal to people seeking a cleaner chocolate option.
All chocolate stocked at Biome is dairy-free and vegan, making it easier to choose without needing to cross-check milk ingredients. The range also avoids artificial colours, artificial flavours and palm oil — prioritising thoughtful sourcing and ingredients that speak for themselves.
Explore the full range of vegan chocolate
Soy-free chocolate
Soy often appears in chocolate as soy lecithin, a common emulsifier used to help stabilise cocoa butter and improve texture. While widely used, it isn’t essential — and for those avoiding soy due to allergy or sensitivity, it can be difficult to avoid, as it’s commonly found in both mainstream and vegan chocolate.
Brands such as Booja-Booja demonstrate that soy-free chocolate can still be smooth, stable and rich. Their chocolate truffles are free from dairy, gluten and soy, with award-winning flavour and texture without relying on soy-based additives.
Bahen & Co. is another option for those seeking soy-free chocolate. Their Australian Made stone-ground dark chocolate bars are also dairy-free and gluten-free, made with organic cacao and minimal ingredients.
Palm oil free chocolate
Palm oil is frequently used in mass-produced chocolate, particularly in creamy or filled varieties. It often appears on ingredient lists as vague terms like “vegetable oil” or “vegetable fat”, rather than being named directly, which can make it harder to spot at a glance.
While palm oil isn’t an allergen in the same way dairy, gluten or soy can be, many people choose to avoid it for environmental, ethical or ingredient-quality reasons. Beyond these concerns, palm oil also changes the texture of chocolate. Traditional chocolate relies on cocoa butter for its snap, sheen and melt, while added vegetable fats are typically used to reduce costs or extend shelf life.
Biome is a 100% palm oil-free store, meaning every chocolate and food product available is chosen without palm oil. For a closer look at ingredient labels and what to avoid, see our guide on how to choose palm oil free chocolate.
Making your own chocolate
For those managing multiple sensitivities, making chocolate at home can be a simple alternative.
Our coconut oil chocolate recipe uses a small number of ingredients, sets in the fridge, and can be adapted with different toppings.
You’ll find all of these ingredient-led choices reflected in our chocolate range, bringing together options suited to a variety of dietary needs in one place.
Shop ALL vegan, palm oil free chocolate
Related reading
A Thoughtful Guide To Vegan & Ethical Chocolate in Australia
Easy Homemade Vegan Chocolate Recipe
How To Choose Palm Oil Free Easter Eggs
