This Christmas, I was gifted a box of vegan truffles from Marks and Spencer and they're a complete game changer.
It's January and, for many people, it's time to take on the Veganuary challenge and forgo all animal products for an entire month. I've been a vegetarian for 13 years, but I am phasing dairy and eggs out of my diet so I'm always excited by January product launches.
I love Veganuary and adore how many companies and restaurants seem keen to take part. There's often the release of new and exciting products and, whatever your diet may be, any foods that are more accessible is always a positive thing in my book.
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This Christmas, I stayed with my boyfriend's family. His mum always panics about buying us presents and food - particularly because neither of us eat meat and only use cruelty-free products - and no matter how often we insist she not get us anything, we always end up with a stocking jam-packed with lovely, thoughtful gifts.
If you picture Alison Steadman's Pam from Gavin and Stacey faking being a vegetarian for fear of offending, or "not catering" correctly for Stacey's family upon meeting them for the very first time, and add in an extra dash of hosting anxiety, then you won't be far off an image of my boyfriend's mother.
She always nails it though - despite likely giving herself major heart palpitations in the run up to Christmas Day. Among a gorgeous array of shower gels and bath bombs in my stocking, there was a box of Marks and Spencer's Plant Kitchen Vegan Belgian Cocoa Dusted Chocolate Truffles.
I'd never tried them before so my interest was piqued. The box was relatively simple, in plain white with a blue pattern. Inside, the dark chocolate truffles were encased in a silver foil bag.
Spoilt for choice over the festive period with a never ending supply of food, we saved the truffles until we returned home. When a friend - who is completely obsessed with meat and dairy - came to visit us and was offered a truffle, she initially turned her nose up.
Laughing, she said: "I don't want any of that vegan s***." (Before any ravenous meat eaters cheer her on, or militant vegans vilify her, I must stress this was said in a very jokey, tongue-in-cheek kind of way.)
I told her she was missing out - after all, they weren't just any vegan truffles, they were M&S vegan truffles. She popped one in her mouth and, almost instantly, her entire demeanour changed.
Her shoulders lowered, she slowly sank back into the sofa and tucked her legs beneath her, her face softened and, in a somewhat stunned voice, she said they were "really nice". Then, she added: "Actually, they're completely gorgeous."
And she was right. These little truffles are like tiny morsels of heaven, dusted in a delightfully bitter cocoa powder that is perfectly juxtaposed with the sweetness of the truffles. Every single bite is decadent, rich and feels like pure indulgence.
We devoured the rest of the box. Sadly, they don't seem to be available via Ocado but you can find your nearest M&S store here. Alternatively, they are up for grabs on eBay and I wholeheartedly recommend snapping them up.
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