This Bellingham Company Is Selling Healthy & Vegan Chocolates

If you're looking for a healthier, even vegan, version of chocolate, set your sights on LunaVida.

This Bellingham, Washington-based company makes these special chocolates by hand and feature some exciting flavor combinations. If you look on the website, there's flavors like "Spicy Mango" and "Peppermint Lavender." Like most dessert joints, LunaVida offers seasonal treats, like "Pumpkin Spice" and Candy Cane Crunch," as well as Valentine's Day specials.

The mind behind this business, Lisa Tenney, was inspired by her sweet tooth, according to KOMO. She's been a vegan since she was 13 and loves chocolate, but the sweet products she saw in stores always had processed ingredients, additives and dairy. So, she decided to make her own in 2007, according to the Etsy store page.

After getting many requests from friends and family, she made her craft into a business.

"I believe what we eat and where it comes from is of the utmost importance to our health and wellbeing," she told the news station. Now, she uses her skills to turn raw cacao, the core ingredient of chocolate, into a raw, vegan but still delicious alternative to mainstream brands.

The more raw cacao is, the more you get its natural benefits. Reporters said raw chocolate can serve as a superfood "high in antioxidants, promoting healthy skin, heart health, improving brain function, enhancing mood, and may even aid in weight loss." Cacao becomes "cocoa" when it's refined and processed.

But what's with the term "raw" in this case? Well, it can refer to the diet or a food item that has no processing, refinement or pesticides. "Raw and unprocessed foods are a central focus keeping with the belief that foods maintain their highest level of nutrients in the natural state," KOMO wrote.

Looking at LunaVida's Etsy store, most of the reviews are very positive, averaging four to five stars. People pointed out how quickly they received their chocolates after ordering. When it came to the actual chocolates, some people called it "rich" and "decadent" while others praised the packaging and service.

If you're interested in checking out her store, you can visit the LunaVida website or the Etsy store. If you want to find out where you can buy the chocolates in-person, click here.

Photo: Getty Images