Is Abuelita Chocolate Vegan and Cruelty Free? 

July 28, 2023

Trying to work out if the Abuelita Mexican hot chocolate drink is vegan can be a difficult task.

Abuelita hot chocolate, just like many other food brands, has a variety of products, and each has a different list of ingredients. 

To make sure you only eat foods that align with your vegan lifestyle, I’ve investigated the ingredients and production methods of Abuelita hot chocolate, and here’s what I’ve found.

Is Abuelita Chocolate Vegan?

Unfortunately, no. Abuelita Mexican hot chocolate has generally been considered vegan since it doesn’t list milk and dairy products as ingredients. However, there is one problem with Abuelita hot chocolate that makes it unsuitable for vegans. Abuelita hot chocolate contains refined sugar that may have been processed using bone char.

Bone char is a type of charcoal that is sometimes used in the sugar refining process and it is made from ground-up animal bones. This means that there is a chance that Abuelita hot chocolate contains traces of animal products.

While this might not be enough to dissuade some vegans from drinking Abuelita Mexican hot chocolate, I simply cannot recommend it as a vegan product.

I contacted Nestle, and they said they have at least 200 suppliers of sugar around the world and it is nigh impossible to track which ones use bone char in the refining process and which ones don’t. This means that if you are looking for a vegan Mexican hot chocolate, Abuelita hot chocolate is not the right choice.

Is Abuelita Chocolate Cruelty Free?

Abuelita Mexican hot chocolate is a cruelty-free product because it’s not tested on animals, nor does it contain ingredients that are tested on animals, like artificial flavors or colors. This is good news for vegans who are also concerned about animal welfare.

While Abuelita Mexican hot chocolate is cruelty free, it’s important to remember that the company that makes it, Nestle, is not. Nestle has a long history of animal testing and was even caught up in a major scandal in the early 2000s when it was revealed that they were conducting tests on animals not to assess the safety of their products but to be able to make health claims about them.

In recent years, Nestle has been working to improve its animal welfare record, but it still has a long way to go. This means that even though Abuelita Mexican hot chocolate itself is not tested on animals and does not contain ingredients that are tested on animals, the company that makes it has a questionable record when it comes to animal welfare.

What Is Abuelita Chocolate Made Of?

Here are the ingredients of Abuelita Chocolate:

  • Sugar
  • Chocolate
  • Soy lecithin
  • Vegetable oils (palm, shea nut, illipe nut)
  • Artificial flavor (cinnamon flavoring)
  • PGPR
  • Corn syrup solids
  • Cocoa powder (processed with alkali)

Let’s break down each ingredient of Abuelita Mexican hot chocolate:

Sugar

Sugar is the main ingredient in Abuelita hot chocolate. The sugar in Abuelita hot chocolate may or may not be processed with bone char.

Chocolate

The chocolate in Abuelita hot chocolate is processed with alkali. Alkali is a type of chemical that is used to make the cocoa in chocolate less acidic. It is vegan friendly.

Soy lecithin

Soy lecithin is a type of emulsifier that is made from soybeans. It is derived from plants.

Vegetable oils (palm, shea nut, illipe nut)

The vegetable oils in Abuelita Mexican hot chocolate are palm, shea nut, and illipe nut. These oils are derived from plants. Palm oil, however, is a bit controversial among vegans because of the environmental damage caused by its production.

Artificial cinnamon flavor

The artificial cinnamon flavor gives Abuelita hot chocolate its characteristic flavor. It is made from synthetic ingredients, not animal products or by-products.

PGPR

PGPR, or polyglycerol polyricinoleate, is a type of emulsifier made from castor beans. It is derived from plants.

Corn syrup solids

Corn syrup solids are a type of sugar that is made from corn. They are derived from plants.

Cocoa powder (processed with alkali)

The cocoa in Abuelita hot chocolate is processed with alkali. Alkali is a type of chemical that is used to make the cocoa in chocolate less acidic. It is vegan friendly.

Why Isn’t Abuelita Mexican Hot Chocolate Vegan?

The main reason Abuelita Mexican hot chocolate is not vegan is the refined sugar. It may or may not have been processed with bone char. Abuelita is a food brand owned by Nestle and like many large food companies, Nestle sources their sugar from many different suppliers. This means that they can not guarantee that the sugar in their products is not processed with bone char.

Sugar that is safe for vegan consumption will usually have “raw,” “organic,” or “unrefined” on the label.

Is the Abuelita Mexican Chocolate Drink Granulated Mix Vegan?

No. The Abuelita Chocolate Granulated Mix is not vegan because it contains refined sugar.

This product is not safe for vegan consumption.

Are Abuelita Mexican Hot Chocolate Tablets Vegan?

No. The Abuelita Chocolate Tablets contain sugar that is not certified vegan.

This product is not safe for vegan consumption.

Is the Abuelita Marqueta Mexican Hot Chocolate Drink Bar Vegan?

No. The Abuelita Hot Chocolate Drink Bar contains sugar that is not certified vegan.

Vegan Alternatives to Abuelita Mexican Hot Chocolate

All these vegan hot chocolate powders are made with 100% certified organic ingredients and they are all vegan friendly. They use ground cacao instead of cocoa powder or chocolate chips for a truly authentic flavor and they are all free of soy, dairy, gluten, and refined sugar.

Final Words

Nestle’s Abuelita Authentic Mexican-Style Hot Chocolate Mix has been a staple in many Latino households for years. The rich, delicious flavor and nostalgic packaging make it a favorite among many. Unfortunately, just like many other hot chocolate mixes on the market, it isn’t vegan.

While the ingredients in Abuelita hot chocolate are vegan, the sugar used can’t be guaranteed to be vegan. This is a deal breaker for many vegans.

However, there are many delicious vegan chocolate options on the market that are made with either organic or unrefined sugar. These vegan chocolates are just as good, if not better, than Abuelita chocolate. But as always, check the label to be sure as ingredients can change at any time.