This is Page 10 of a 10-page review of hot chocolate and cocoa brands. Click on the black links below to visit other pages.
Hot Chocolate Brands M To Z
MarieBelle Aztec Original Hot Chocolate. While “Aztec” often refers to spicy chocolate, Marie Belle’s Aztecs are not spiced but basic blends. A deep chocolate color with an equally deep aroma and a beautiful not-too-sweet, true chocolate flavor 
with some complexity and depth to it. Would be a favorite except for the faulty directions. When made according to instructions, resulting beverage is watery and lumpy; even repeated whisking and microwaving wouldn’t resolve these issues. However, if mix is placed in a bowl and an equal amount of boiling water is gradually whisked in, beverage blossoms into a very slightly thickened, perfectly smooth, delightful mug of hot chocolate (if made according to this method, beverage may have to be heated briefly in microwave to get it hot again). First ingredient: Venezuelan cocoa 60-70%. Entire ingredient list: Venezuelan cocoa 60% to 70%, cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, sugar, milk, cornstarch, soya lecithin. Sodium content: not listed. Price: $17.00 for 10 ounces. Read our full review of MarieBelle Chocolate, a NIBBLE Top Pick Of The Week.
MarieBelle Aztec Dark Hot Chocolate. Another deeply chocolate-colored beverage with a great, full chocolate aroma. Bittersweet, somewhat astringent chocolate flavor that lasts and lasts. Difficulties with instructions; see prior entry. First ingredient: Venezuelan cocoa 60% to 70%. Entire ingredient list: Venezuelan cocoa 60% to 70%, cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, sugar, milk, cornstarch, soya lecithin. Sodium content: not listed. Price: $17.00 for 10 ounces.
Max Brenner Chocolate Powder (Milk Caibos). No specific quantity of milk called for, so 6 teaspoons of these chocolate chunks were used to six ounces of hot milk. With these proportions, beverage was a pale, milky brown with a gentle chocolate aroma. Very delicate milky chocolate flavor. Confusing instructions: “Melt 5 heaping teaspoons of chocolate powder in a bit of boiling water…” but two sentences later, directions state: “To obtain a thick beverage with a pronounced chocolatey flavor, we recommend 5-7 teaspoons.” No ingredients or sodium content listed. NOTE: Max Brenner does not have online ordering, but they will be glad to take your order over the telephone at 1.212.388.0030. Price: $1.66 per 1 ounce. Read our full review of Max Brenner Chocolate.
Max Brenner Chocolate Powder (Dark Caibos). Six heaping teaspoons of product were used to six ounces of hot milk. With these proportions, beverage was a deep cocoa brown color and had a mildly chocolate aroma. Beverage was a “middleweight” regarding flavor and aroma—good chocolate impact, but not bittersweet. A pleasant cup of hot chocolate. Confusing instructions; see above entry. No ingredients or sodium content listed. NOTE: Max Brenner does not have online ordering, but they will be glad to take your order over the telephone at 1.212.388.0030. Price: $1.66 per 1 ounce.
Nature’s First All Natural Premium Milk Chocolate Hot Chocolate. Dark milky brown color with no chocolate aroma. Much too sweet; tastes like hot sweetened liquid nonfat dry milk with a brown crayon dipped in it. First ingredient: sucrose. Also contains tricalcium phosphate, whey protein concentrate, and carrageenan, in addition to other ingredients. Sodium content: 52 mg/serving. Price: $25.00 for 24 ounces.
Recchiuti Dark Hot Chocolate Pure Chocolate Pistoles. A medium chocolate brown beverage with a deep chocolate aroma. This is straight-up bittersweet chocolate flavor, not too sweet and with a lot of depth. Very good! Because the first formula on the package is made with water, it can seem thin to an American palate, but there is an alternative recipe for making this hot chocolate with steamed milk. A favorite. First ingredient: cacao beans. Entire ingredient list: cacao beans, cocoa butter, sugar, soy lecithin, vanilla beans. Sodium content: not listed. Price: $16.00 for 12 ounces. Read our full review of Recchiuti Confections, a NIBBLE Top Pick Of The Week.
Schokinag Triple Chocolate European Drinking Chocolate. Beverage is a medium milky brown with many darker flecks of chocolate, with a faintly chocolate aroma. Good chocolate impact but insufficient sweetness. Microwave-based instructions result in far too much partly-melted chocolate at bottom of mug, despite repeated attempts at making beverage with these instructions. First ingredient: cocoa mass. Entire ingredient list: cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, soya lecithin, cocoa powder, pure vanilla. Sodium content: 45 mg/serving. Price: $12.95 for 12 ounces.
Wen Chocolates Dutch Hot Chocolate Artisan Chocolate Drink. Dark chocolate color with mild chocolate aroma. Sweet, but with a definite cocoa taste that gradually comes to the forefront. First ingredient: nonfat dry milk. Entire ingredient list: nonfat dry milk, Dutch process cocoa (processed with alkali), sugar. Sodium content: 0 mg/serving. Price: $1.75 for a single serving packet. Read our full review of Wen Chocolates, a NIBBLE Top Pick Of The Week.
Williams-Sonoma Hot Chocolate. A medium milky brown with many darker, tiny flecks and a faintly chocolate aroma. Modestly chocolate flavor, slightly too sweet. First ingredient: bittersweet Guittard chocolate. Entire ingredient list: bittersweet Guittard chocolate, soya lecithin, pure vanilla. Sodium content: 0 mg/serving. Price: $19.50 for 14.5 ounces.
Woodhouse Chocolate Hot Chocolate. A darker chocolate color with a faintly chocolate aroma. Some undissolved flecks of chocolate in beverage, but not detectable on tongue. Good chocolate impact, with a near-perfect sweetness-chocolate balance. A favorite. No ingredients or sodium content listed. Price: $16.00 for 6 servings. Read our full review of Woodhouse Chocolate, a NIBBLE Top Pick Of The Week.
That’s it! Thanks for taking this in-depth tour of cocoa and hot chocolate with us. Now, you can return to Part 1, an Overview Of Hot Cocoa & Hot Chocolate, or just enjoy a cup!
Go To The Article Index Above
Lifestyle Direct, Inc. All rights reserved. Photos are the copyright of their respective owners.
European-style hot chocolate means melting shavings, beads or disks of actual chocolate and adding boiling water or milk. That’s what you do with Recchiuti Dark Hot Chocolate Pure Chocolate Pistoles, one of the favorites you’ll read about.