Are Starbucks chocolate curls vegan? (What is in Starbucks chocolate curls? + more information)

Starbucks offers a variety of toppings options for its customers for drinks customization. However, what if you are a vegan yet a big fan of the Starbucks chocolate curls? Are Starbucks chocolate curls vegan?

No, the Starbucks dark chocolate curls used as toppings on different beverages, like the peppermint mocha, are not vegan. According to the Starbucks website, milk is among the ingredients used to make these curls hence ruling the topping from vegan options. My transition to becoming fully vegan was not an easy journey, since it is hard to get beverages and snacks that do not have any animal product as an ingredient.

Being a big fan of the peppermint mocha offered by Starbucks, I had to analyze the drink and come up with a way to make it vegan, since I did not want to cut it off from my diet. Aside from replacing the steamed milk with almond milk, I also ditched the whipped cream and dark chocolate curls used as toppings for this drink and replaced them with cinnamon dolce drizzles. This is after I established that dark chocolate curls are made of milk. If you want to try out this topping, read on to find out more.

What is in Starbucks chocolate curls?

According to the Starbucks website, the dark chocolate curls that are used as toppings on their bakery items and beverages like the popular peppermint mocha is a combination of chocolate mass, sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla extract, milk, and soy lecithin. The chocolate mass used to make these dark chocolate curls are processed with alkali.

Additionally, though the chocolate curls are said to be vegan, you would want to avoid these curls as one of the ingredients used to make them is milk. Therefore, if you are lactose intolerant or allergic to animal products, then the Starbucks chocolate curls would not be among your toppings options.

What is the nutritional information of Starbucks chocolate curls?

A tablespoon of Starbucks chocolate curls contains 20 calories, with fats making up for 13.5 of these calories, which is equal to 67.5%. Additionally, the same serving will have 1.5 grams of total fats, 1 gram of saturated fat, and 0mg of sodium.

Consequently, the same serving of chocolate curls has 2 grams of carbs, 2 grams of net carbs, and 2 grams of sugar. This same serving also has no proteins and also 0 grams of fibre. Therefore, while ordering your favourite drinks from Starbucks, like peppermint mocha, you might want to ditch the dark chocolate curl toppings so as to reduce the calorie count. However, this will change the taste of your drink as these chocolate curls give the peppermint mocha a rich, chocolatier taste.

What does the Starbucks chocolate curls taste like?

The Starbucks chocolate curls have a rich and sweet chocolate taste. Even when used as toppings, the curls still have a rich, strong taste, making the drink taste chocolatier. Additionally, these curls are also sweet mainly because of the sugar added to the curls when making them.

When eating these curls, you will also notice a subtle vanilla taste, as these curls are made of milk. Generally, the taste of these curls is a perfect balance of chocolate profile, sweetness, and a subtle taste of vanilla.

Final Thoughts

Though you might mistake the Starbucks chocolate curls for being vegan, it is not, as milk is one of the ingredients used to make these curls. Additionally, though these curls are gluten-free, Starbucks does not guarantee that any of their products are allergen-free, as they use shared equipment to make them.

Therefore, if you have any allergies or you are lactose intolerant, you should stay away from these curls just to be on the safe side. However, if you are not a vegan, then you will definitely enjoy these curls as toppings on your favourite beverages or snacks at Starbucks. These curls have a rich, sweet chocolate profile and will be great for someone with a sweet tooth and in love with chocolates.

FAQ Section

Are Starbucks chocolate curls considered bakery items at Starbucks?

No, Starbucks chocolate curls are mostly used as toppings on both bakery items and drinks offered by the coffee chain.

Are Starbucks chocolate curls healthy?

No, the Starbucks chocolate curls are not the healthiest toppings offered by the coffee house, as just a tablespoon serving of these curls will give you 20 calories.

Are Starbucks chocolate curls gluten-free?

Though Starbucks chocolate curls are gluten-free and can be enjoyed by someone who is gluten-intolerant, the coffee house does not guarantee that any of its products are completely free from any allergens. This is because the coffee chain uses shared equipment to prepare its products.