Chocolate/cocoa flavoured spreads are delicious, they pair perfectly with a nice cup of tea and toast in the morning or can be a great add-in for desserts in the evening. The biggest issue with loving these spreads, however, is the overwhelmingly negative ingredients. The average chocolate spread, usually considered a perfect snack for kids, contains a whopping 21 grams of sugar, coming in at 200 calories per serving. And let’s be honest, we never listen to those serving sizes. Not only that, but the added synthetic flavouring and palm oil aren’t doing our bodies or the environment, any favours.
However, Lori’s Wholesome Pantry has recently released an Australian-first – a cocoa flavoured, watermelon substitute for chocolate spread, that’s right – Watermelon Seed Butter. Now don’t let the name fool you, this butter is chocolatey. When I first heard of the Watermelon Seed Butter, my assumption was that it would look and taste like a fruit smoothie, which is not what I wanted on my morning toast. Instead, the Watermelon Seed Butter looks just like every other popular chocolate spread, with a darker, cocoa colour. The consistency is perfect for a spread, as it is smooth enough to drag across a piece of toast without tearing, yet thick enough so it’s not runny or watery. But, what does it taste like? I was pleasantly surprised to find the Watermelon Seed Butter had a rich, chocolaty taste, feeling more authentic than usually chocolate spread. The butter was dark, creamy, and perfectly sweet, which is impressive due to the lack of refined sugars. In fact, the Watermelon Seed Butter is 100% plant-based and uses organic ingredients like watermelon seeds (obviously), tiger nut flour, and cocoa. Because of these natural ingredients, the spread is not only healthy, but gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, vegetarian, and vegan. This is a game-changer for spreads, especially for parents with younger, primary school-aged kids. Due to the abundance of nut allergies, dairy intolerance, and dietary restrictions, preparing lunches and snacks for your kids to take to school is getting increasingly difficult. But with the Watermelon Seed Butter, doubled-checking your kid’s lunches isn’t a worry anymore, as it is completely lunchbox friendly, which saves time and effort while grocery shopping for kid’s lunches
Speaking of grocery shopping, the price of the Watermelon Seed Butter may be shocking, with the retail price coming in at $14.95 RRP for a 250g jar, therefore making the spread $5.98 per 100 grams. This price is quite a climb from the usual price of popular chocolate spreads, with the average price being $1.68 per 100g for other name-brand chocolate spreads. However, we all know that healthier options tend to be pricier, that’s the cost of eating healthy. So, if you’re looking for a healthy, cheap, and delicious alternative to chocolate spread, you’re going to have some trouble. But, if you are looking for a creamy, chocolaty spread that’s allergen-free, preservative-free, and better for you, check out the Watermelon Seed Butter. It’s now available Australia wide at all health food stores and through the Lori’s Wholesome Pantry website.
