Just like we want to cook from scratch, being able to tear open a pack of hot cocoa, add hot milk and indulge in it (especially when you are a remote control button, please stop watching “Mulan” or “Miracle” Woman (1984) ). But if your drink tastes like hard, sawdust chocolate water, all these conveniences are of no avail. Not all packaging is created equal, which is why we try to taste some of the most popular brands ourselves To discover the reason for the best hot chocolate mix around.
We took the average score of the two taste testers and provided half of each taste (all made with milk according to the package instructions), and equipped with coffee and water as a palate cleanser. Brands are selected based on reviews and availability (in stores and online), and our scores target five areas: value, quality of ingredients, texture, aroma and flavor.
Target’s internal label is known for its high-quality food at generic brand prices (seriously, its Mac and cheese are over the price), but we can’t say the same is true for its hot cocoa powder. It’s only $5, which is more than twice the price of Miss Switzerland, and…not bad. When I picked up the cup, there was no mint fragrance, but the first bite had a strong, almost mouthwash-like mint smell, which quickly made the back seat smooth and cocoa. You can drink half a cup, but we find that we don’t want more.
We want to like this more than we do! Torres’ chocolate is sacred, and so is the taste here-you can get that rich dark chocolate from the judge of Nailed It-but we can’t go beyond its texture. By boiling hot milk and stirring heavily, you can break the chocolate into a smooth consistency, but it will quickly become soft.
Over the years, after sampling several types of Swiss Miss, we decided to focus on the brand’s most iconic products: hot chocolate and mini marshmallows. This sweet drink tastes like childhood, although we always want it to be filled with more marshmallows (even marshmallow lovers cannot tailor it for us), but you really cannot be in such an environment Beat the milky white chocolate flavor at the low price (less than 20 cents a cup!).
Starbucks occupies two positions in our review simply because the difference between the two flavors is so great. Of course, you can buy mint and salted caramel varieties, but the classic is named this way because it is a velvety and smooth chocolate, not too bitter, will not make children dislike it, and the sugar content is not high, adult People will not complain of toothache. Three mouths
This is for milk chocolate lovers there: Ghirardelli’s Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa tastes like a melting candy bar. It is milkier and sweeter than the others, but it is not that interesting. The light vanilla flavor balances the richness of double chocolate.
No wonder there is a simple mocha recipe on the back of each packet-the mocha flavor in this drink is undeniable. Starbucks’s approach to Double Chocolate is not too sweet, but delicate, and overall the taste is richer and sweeter. (Nevertheless, the rich, smooth texture is really sold to us.)
Godiva’s milk chocolate hot cocoa is good-until you try the dark chocolate version. It is so rich, soft and wasteful that you vowed to have a cup of cocoa in a specialty coffee shop, hot cocoa for $6. Every time you buy with a jar, only each serving will refund you less than $2.
We will tell the truth: we did not see this. The homemade mason jar packaging is very sweet, but we are worried that the mixture made in Long Island will taste like cocoa powder, sprinkled with a hint of sugar. We will never judge cocoa by its container again. This ultra-thick (and still ultra-smooth) drink has a sweet dark chocolate flavor, with the vaguest hint of smoky flavor. It immediately made us dream of relaxing by the fire and enjoying the second cup as soon as possible.
PureWow100 is a scale used by our editors to review new products and services, so you know what it means to spend money and what it means to hype. Learn more about our process here.