Hey there sweet friend,

How’s this winter season treating you? Are you cuddling up with that hot chocolate every night, binge-watching Netflix? No need to feel ashamed. I hear you!

I’ve created a whole night-time ritual around chocolate myself, and it’s all about satisfying my sweet cravings, without any guilt. I’ll let you in on my routine because I’d really love more people to know that they can have the ultimate delectable winter night in, and don’t have to worry about feeling bad afterwards. I’m all about finding alternatives that allow me to live my sugar-free life happily, and I can promise you that there are really no brakes required when it comes to this yummy night on your sofa that I’m about to fill you in on. And yes, you definitely deserve the treat! 

I quit sugar a few years ago. After scoffing down a whole slab of dark chocolate, I’d immediately feel absolutely awful. And often all of that sugar would keep me up at night. It really used to affect my concentration the next day too. So yes, this healthy alternative with no refined sugar has given me a new lease on life. And a new way to do Netflix and chill, that’s for sure. So let’s get back to my indulgent couch-potato night.

After a brisk walk on my treadmill and whipping up dinner (I’m so into healthy soup recipes right now), I hop into my fleece pyjamas and put on my fluffy slipper boots.

What will it be tonight? Am I after the Vegan Peanut Butter Cup made with coconut milk? That delectable sugar-free and dairy-free Belgian dark chocolate stuffed with chunky peanut butter is a real temptation. Or is it the Cutie Pie that I’m lus for? Biting into that fluffy, sugar-free marshmallow enrobed in the finest Belgian milk chocolate feels like I’m landing on a billowy cloud. It’s exactly the kind of relaxation I’m looking for on a winter’s night. 

But yes, if it’s sugar-free comfort food that I crave, then maybe this calls for the ultimate creamy dark chocolate fix: Vegan Cocoa Supreme. This is hands-down the tastiest vegan sweet treat in South Africa! Indulgence is this one’s middle name, and I adore how the rich, dark, dairy-free chocolate ganache rolls over my tongue after I crack into the shell of sugar-free Belgian dark chocolate, lightly dusted with fine cocoa powder. I tell you, this one makes me see stars!

Sidenote: I have a friend who’s a diabetic, and she tells me she has boxes of Sorella sugar-free Caramel Pop stashed in her fridge exactly for nights like this one. Her favourite sweet treat allows her to continue living her healthy lifestyle without feeling left out when it comes to eating chocolate. When a friend joins her for a Saturday night in front of the telly, she doesn’t even mention that what she’s offering her buddy is completely sugar free. She only tells her when she’s grabbing the second one (before she probably wants a third too – hehe). She says her friends are always astounded that there is no sugar in this caramel fudge smothered in Belgian milk chocolate. Wink wink – that’s totally the kind of reason why I exist! No one should have to compromise on flavour when going sugar-free.

Of course, if you’ve met this Sorella gal, you’ll know that I am all about ‘the more, the merrier’, so I take one of each of the choices in my treat box: a Peanut Butter Cup, Cutie Pie and Vegan Cocoa Supreme. Onto a pretty ceramic plate they go – my creamy dark chocolate deserves only the best presentation. I guess it comes with the territory – when I’m looking after my body, I kinda start wanting everything to be looked after. So even my tasty sugar-free treats need to have their moment to shine on my crockery before I tuck in.

I’m one of those people who eats a chocolate in sections. So although it’s probably best to cram the entire Cutie Pie into your mouth in one go, I first enjoy just one lick of that creamy marshmallow. Then I alternate it with the chunky Peanut Butter Cup. Those two go down in two tender bites each. It’s at this point that that sense of freedom that I love feeling at the end of a long day kicks in. The Vegan Cocoa Supreme seals the deal, and I eat this one on its own, to keep that deep, dark chocolate flavour in my mouth for a long while. It gives me all the tingly feels as I settle into my indulgence, listening to my favourite tunes. 

So, my sweeties, now that I’ve let you in on how best to go about this me-time ritual, what will it be for you tonight? Are you ready for your own Sorella Solo Satisfaction? Give it a go. I’m here to comfort you through these cold, wintery nights. Don’t you worry, we’ll make it through the cold spell together.

Sweetly, Sorella

PS: Do you have a friend going through a tough time? You want to treat them but you know that sugar will just make them feel worse. Well, that’s where I have you covered. You can spoil them with a Sorella gift voucher and they can choose their favourite sugar-free chocolates and sweet treats to keep them feeling the love all winter.