Friends fans are all saying the same about new product spotted in Aldi

A unique European food brand is launching in the UK for the first time ever, as part of a new supermarket partnership. ChoViva is a cocoa-free chocolate alternative from Germany, and it’s making its debut in Aldi, as part of the bargain retailer’s Easter range. The product is said to look and taste like the real thing, but instead of being made from cocoa as is traditional, it’s been formed in a more sustainable way using fermented oats and sunflower seeds, as well as  sugar, vegetable fat, skimmed milk powder and emulsifiers.

ChoVoiva features in Aldi’s Dairyfine Peanut Butter Mini Eggs (£1.49 for 90g), offering a cocoa-free version of the sweet treat. Created by food tech startup Planet A Foods, ChoViva is described as ‘the world’s first chocolate alternative based on sunflower seeds’. The process in which it’s made is said to be similar to the traditional chocolate making method. Sunflower seeds and/or oats undergo a similar treatment to cocoa beans, being fermented and gently roasted. Next they are ground to produce a highly aromatic concentrate, before being mixed with other ingredients and conched.

‘The result is a creamy, tender and velvet mass that looks and tastes like chocolate,’ the brand’s website claims. And if you’re wondering what it tastes like, the brand says it is still ‘chocolatey’. The FAQ section explains: ‘ChoViva is a rich, chocolatey experience, but without cocoa. We discovered that it’s not only the cocoa beans that define the typical spectrum of chocolate flavours – the biggest part is developed by the fermentation and roasting. We’ve adapted this knowledge to local ingredients.’.

According to the brand, ChoViva isn’t a single product, but an ‘innovative ingredient developed to serve as a suitable alternative for the food industry’, and it reportedly ‘creates 80% less emissions compared to conventional chocolate’. Online, people are somewhat divided over it, with some claiming it’s ‘amazing’ and ‘delicious’ on Reddit and Instagram, but others not convinced by the idea of ‘fake chocolate’, or ‘synthetic chocolate’, as it’s been dubbed.

Many also couldn’t help but be reminded of a product that featured on the hit 90s sitcom, Friends. The chocolate alternative was compared to ‘Mockolate’ a chocolate substitute that featured in the season two episode, The One with the List. In the episode, Monica (played by Courteney Cox) attempted to create recipes for the controversial product, without much success. On Reddit, u/100ProofPixel asked: ‘I can’t be the only person that went straight to Mockolate?’.

Similarly, on TikTok @heymacksarrow said: ‘It’s giving that time Monica had to recipe test for fake chocolate.’. While ChocoViva is debuting in the UK thanks to Aldi, this isn’t the first time the product has been used by a big name brand. The chocolate alternative has also been used by Lindt. In 2023 Lindt in Germany started selling limited-edition vegan hazelnut bars, using ChoViva. Do you have a story to share?.

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk. Arrow MORE: Kathy Burke quits chart-topping podcast after 100 episodes leaving fans ‘beyond sad’. Arrow MORE: My greatest passion is making complaints about bad customer service. Arrow MORE: Music facts that will make you feel really old. Your free email guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews. Enter your postcode so we can deliver content close to you Close.