This winter, we’ve turned to the hug-in-a-mug known as hot chocolate to keep our cheeks warm and rosy. Oh, the wonders of this little drink! Whether it’s for breakfast, dessert, or a mid-day pick-me-up, there’s nothing like a hot cup of sweet relief to make you smile.
Here are a few that brighten our days. The best part: they’re all available on our website, so you don’t have to brave the snow to get ‘em! We’d hate to make you suffer through any more hat hair.
Hasslacher’s Hot Drinking Chocolate
If you want pure, unadulterated chocolate, look no further than Hasslacher’s Hot Drinking Chocolate bricks ($12.95). It’s 100% Cacao from Colombia with nothing added. Their mission: to go beyond fair trade and keep every process from bean to bar in Colombia.
We began importing this brand after tasting its high quality. In our store, we’ve been heating up one brick with one gallon of milk in our microwave before mixing them in a blender (we suggest adding a little sugar to taste). The result is frothy and delicious. We’ve got a thermos of it by our front register for sampling—come in and try some today!
For more about Hasslacher, check out this adorable one-minute Flash animation on how their chocolate comes to be, or watch a great short video about how people in Colombia view hot chocolate.
Prestat Hot Chocolate Flakes
Prestat, the lauded English chocolate house whose products we import, shaves its expertly-crafted chocolate into tiny Hot Chocolate Flakes ($10) for easy absorption into milk. Their globally inspired flavors like Matcha Green Tea and The Maharajah’s Chai make for quite the unique cup. It makes a great gift in its brightly colored package and is sure to impress any foodie neighbor who catches a whiff.
MarieBelle Aztec Hot Chocolate
MarieBelle Aztec Hot Chocolate gift tins ($26) are filled with dark single-origin South American cacao. They are available in 2 flavors, Aztec and a stronger Dark Hot Chocolate. These tins area like a bunch of mini vacations in one: directions are included to make European-style and American-style hot chocolate, so your tongue can travel to the Swiss Alps or the Colorado Rockies. Create your own little piece of paradise, or give it to someone in need of a little sunshine.
Stay warm out there. Don’t forget the marshmallows!
