Let's explore the world of hot chocolate to uncover the mystery behind hot cocoa so that we can indulge in the finest chocolate beverage. As chocolate connoisseurs we have tried many different recipes of hot chocolate and most of the leading brands and so we will be sharing our reviews to point you in the right direction of the best instant hot chocolate brands, flavours, toppings, some hot chocolates too avoid, as well as some popular fresh hot chocolate from various countries around the world.
Italian Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate is made a similar way in Italy as it is in France and throughout Europe. We love Italian hot chocolate because it is thick with a rich chocolatey taste that is not overly sweet but is so much more indulgent. The drink is thickened with cornflour and if left to go cold, it can be refrigerated and eaten the next day as a delicious chocolate mousse. We make this occasionally as an indulgent treat, feel free to check out our Italian hot chocolate recipe.
Mexican hot chocolate
This one is special but it is not for everyone, chilli with chocolate is a great combination but only if you enjoy spice. This one is not thick like the Italian hot chocolate as it is made without cream but traditional Mexican hot chocolate has cinnamon and cayenne and is made with the use of a molinillo whisk which is essential to achieve the frothy foam. This is the perfect winter warmer hot choc, our traditional Mexican hot chocolate recipe is delightful!
West African hot chocolate
Made from milk, dark chocolate broken into pieces, honey, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon and 30ml of dark rum
Jamaican hot chocolate
Made primarily of chocolate, water, grated nutmeg, cinnamon, condensed milk and coconut sugar.
Polish LaFesta Hot Chocolate (Video)
As a hot chocolate lover, I have tried various hot chocolate mixes from around the world, including Mexican and Italian hot chocolate. Recently, I tried an instant Polish hot chocolate mix that comes in small sachets. After frothing up the milk in our coffee machine, I noticed that the colour of the hot chocolate did not match the advertised image on the packaging. However, the taste was surprisingly decent for an instant mix. It was sweet and sugary, but lacked a rich chocolate flavour.
Although I enjoyed the mix, I found it to be overly sweet and would not serve it to guests. Instead, I plan to use it as cocoa powder to sprinkle on top of coffee or mix with dark cocoa powder. If you're looking for a high-quality instant hot chocolate mix, I recommend Green and Black's hot chocolate mix. It's rich and delicious, but also expensive. While the Polish hot chocolate mix was a good price, it lacked the richness and flavour I desired. Although instant hot chocolate mixes can be convenient, they often lack the depth and richness of freshly made hot chocolate. If you're a hot chocolate lover like me, take the time to create a homemade mix or invest in a high-quality hot chocolate mix.
Starbucks Instant Hot Chocolate (Review)
Have you ever been excited to try a new product, only to find out it's terrible? This is exactly what happened to Ryan who recently purchased Starbucks hot chocolate. After reading the label on the back of the tin, he discovered that Starbucks had licensed their logo to Nestle. Meaning, the product was not even made by Starbucks, but rather by Nestle, and sold for £4.50 per tin.
The hot chocolate mix on the back of the tin instructs to use five teaspoons for one drink, equating to your whole daily sugar intake. How can a company expect you to consume your entire daily sugar intake in one drink? This is not only unhealthy but is also a terrible price. Upon opening the tin, the mix had a grey colour and smelled like cheap, instant hot chocolate. After mixing it with warm milk, the taste was very average, lacking any real chocolate flavour. It simply tasted like milk and sugar.
While the packaging was nicer than your standard instant mix, it's clear that they were trying to pretend that it was made by Starbucks. It's frustrating to be ripped off by a company that you trust, and it's important to voice your opinion. If it says Starbucks, it should be made by Starbucks, not Nestle. Ryan recommends that you don't waste your money on the Starbucks hot chocolate mix because in his opinion, you would be better off making your own healthier version at home that tastes better. This experience was a lesson that it is essential to read the label before purchasing any product.
Costa Instant hot chocolate
This hot chocolate mix is unique because it is vegan, containing no milk powder, and is made of 35% cocoa. The packaging is nice and cheaper than the Starbucks hot chocolate mix, but is it worth the hype? The instructions on the tin recommend using three to four teaspoons of the mix. As someone who doesn't like too much sugar, the taster opted for three teaspoons. The mix smells better than the Starbucks hot chocolate mix and even has visible sugar on the top.
Ryan used barista oat milk to make the hot chocolate. After mixing the hot chocolate mix and milk, the result was thick and foamy, but unfortunately, the mix did not dissolve well. Despite the mix not dissolving well, the taste was fantastic. Compared to the Starbucks hot chocolate mix, this one was much better. It was rich, had a nice texture, and was not too sweet. It didn't dissolve well, the taste was fantastic, and the mix is vegan, making it accessible to everyone. If you're looking for a delicious hot chocolate mix, give Costa Hot Chocolate a try.
Popular toppings for hot chocolate
- Marshmallows
- Cocoa powder
- Chocolate shavings
- Caramel sauce
- Whipped cream
- Mini eggs (at easter!)
- Toffee
- Sea salt
- Truffles
- Cinnamon stick
- Cayenne pepper
- Candy cane
- Sprinkles
- Crushed meringue
- Cookie crumbs
- Wafer
