Are Gummy Bears / Gummies Vegan?
In Estonia there is hardly any plant-based gummy bears. If you search hard enough you can find some stores that stock vegan gummies (Biomarket). But in US and some other countries, or online shops like Amazon you can find plenty of vegan gummy candies.
So why are some gummy bears not vegan? Because they contain gelatin. Gelatin is made from collagen found in animal body parts like skin and bones. Yumyum! – not so fun.
Are Jelly Beans Vegan?
What about jelly beans – are they vegan? Usually jelly beans do not contain gelatin but they might contain beeswax and shellac. Beeswax is wax produced by bees – this gives the beans their shine. And shellac is basically bug poop… this supposedly gives a good flavor. These ingredients make most jelly beans vegetarian, but not vegan. There are more and more vegan jelly beans appearing on the market. We have noted down the best ones.
Vegan “Gelatin”
If you would like to make your own gummies, then you can make some vegan gelatin by yourself. You can use either agar-agar, which is made from algea. Or you can use a type of dried seaweed called carrageen. There is also Vegan Jel – which is a powder that you can add into your mixture. Good agar-agar can also be ordered from Amazon.
Best Organic Vegan Gummy Bears
1. Surf Sweets – Organic Fruity Bears
Your daily dose of vitamin C in the form of these bad boys! Personally love the grapefruit and orange taste. Good to stack up on these for horrible winter days. Nothing wrong with some braincandy!
2. Wholesome – Organic Cinnamon Bears
Gummy bears with cinnamon – what?!? You either hate them or love them. Simple ingredients and a spicy taste which makes them really unique. Best match for some warm tea after a nice hike in the woods.
3. J. Luehders – Smoothie Gummies
Healthy as it can get – smoothie made into gummies. These have an awesome texture. Banana, cherries, apples and passion fruit – all in one 🙂
4. Organic Gummy Cubs – Cubilicious Peaches
California made gummy bears without all the crap. Gelatin free, gluten free, gmo + pesticide free, nothing artifical ever, no corn syrup, vegan and a cub hug of vitamin c.
5. Yummi Bears Organics – Gummy Vitamin
More than 20 years, made in the USA. These can be consumed as a vitamin C supplement. They have a sugary coating, so it’s more of a treat than a vitamin. Very tasty 🙂
Guidelines for Healthy and Vegan Candy
Check here for a guide on where to get the best sweets. There are also probiotic gummies!