Cosy season has well and truly arrived, and there are few better ways to warm up on a chilly evening than with a rich mug of hot chocolate. With so many fancy options on supermarket shelves and in high street shops, though, it can be tricky to know which ones deserve a place in your cupboard. Consumer group Which? has now put eight luxury dark hot chocolates to a blind taste test, and the results might help you decide where to spend your money this winter.
The winner was Hotel Chocolat’s Classic 70% Hot Chocolate Flakes, which cost £9.95 for a 280g pouch and scored 71% overall. Tasters loved its flavour and smooth, silky feel, with most saying it struck the perfect balance between sweet and bitter. It was named a Best Buy and described as a great-tasting, luxurious drink that feels like a real treat. For anyone who wants a cup that tastes as indulgent as a café version, this is the one to beat.
It’s not the cheapest choice on the list, but it works out at just over £1 per serving, which is far less than you’d pay for a hot chocolate in a coffee shop. The judges also reckoned it would make a lovely Christmas present or stocking filler for chocolate fans. You can pick it up in Hotel Chocolat shops, as well as online at Ocado and in Tesco, so it’s fairly easy to get hold of.
M&S proves luxury doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
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Close behind in second place was Marks & Spencer’s Belgian 70% Dark Hot Chocolate Flakes, which scored 69%. At £6 for 250g, it’s less than half the price of most of the others in the test, and it was given a Great Value award for delivering brilliant taste on a budget. That makes it a smart pick for anyone who wants a posh cup without spending too much. It’s also easy to grab during a regular food shop, which saves a special trip.
Tasters were impressed by how creamy it was, saying it hit just the right level, and they also praised how smooth it felt to drink. The packaging is a little plainer than some of its rivals, so it may not look as fancy wrapped up under the tree. If it’s the taste you care about most, though, this own-brand option holds its own against far more expensive names.
Melt shares the runner-up spot.
Melt’s 70% Dark Hot Chocolate also scored 69%, putting it joint second with M&S. It costs £12.99 for 250g and did well for creaminess, and it was rated one of the best-looking drinks of the bunch. Around two-thirds of tasters said its colour was spot on, giving it that rich, deep brown look you want from a luxury cup.
Overall, it was described as a satisfying drink, but some people felt the bitterness was a bit too strong for their liking. That makes it a better fit for those who enjoy a darker, more intense cocoa taste rather than something sweet. Fans of very dark chocolate bars may find it right up their street. It’s harder to find than the others, as you’ll need to order it online or visit Melt’s shop in Notting Hill, London.
How every hot chocolate scored
Here’s the full list of results from the taste test, with prices and overall scores:
Hotel Chocolat Classic 70% Hot Chocolate Flakes, £9.95 for 280g, 71%
M&S Belgian 70% Dark Hot Chocolate Flakes, £6 for 250g, 69%
Melt Dark Hot Chocolate, £12.99 for 250g, 69%
Chococo 70% Madagascar Origin Hot Chocolate Flakes, £14.50 for 200g, 65%
Knoops 72% Extra Dark Chocolate Flakes, £13.50 for 250g, 64%
Kokoa Collection Dominican Republic Flakes 70%, £9.50 for 175g, 60%
Cocoa Canopy Super Dark Hot Chocolate Melting Beads, £5.95 for 225g, 57%
Islands 75% Dark Chocolate Buttons, £11 for 200g, 54%
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One thing that stands out is that the priciest options didn’t always come out on top. The most expensive product in the line-up only managed third, while the M&S flakes, one of the cheapest, shared second place. It’s a handy reminder that a bigger price tag doesn’t guarantee a better drink. Before splashing out on a fancy brand, it could pay to try a cheaper option first.
Where the pricier picks fell short
Chococo’s 70% Madagascar Origin Hot Chocolate Flakes came in third place, just behind the joint runners-up, with a score of 65%. At £14.50 for 200g, it was the most expensive in the test, and while it looked good and had a pleasant flavour, its texture didn’t quite match the higher scorers. For that sort of money, many shoppers might expect a little more, especially when cheaper flakes scored higher.
High street favourite Knoops followed with its 72% Extra Dark Chocolate Flakes, which cost £13.50 for 250g and scored 64%. It earned decent marks for appearance and taste, but almost half of tasters felt it wasn’t creamy enough. Kokoa Collection’s Dominican Republic Flakes, priced at £9.50 for 175g, scored 60%, with more than half of people saying the flavour was too weak and needed more sweetness. With a smaller pouch than most, it also gives you fewer cups for your money.
The bitter end of the table
Near the bottom was Cocoa Canopy’s 75% Super Dark Hot Chocolate Melting Beads, which cost £5.95 for 225g and scored 57%. This one split opinion, with around two-thirds of tasters saying it wasn’t sweet or creamy enough. It might still appeal to people who like a very dark, less sugary drink, but most of the panel weren’t won over. On the plus side, it’s one of the more affordable choices in the test.
In last place was Islands 75% Dark Chocolate Buttons, priced at £11 for 200g, with a score of 54%. Tasters weren’t keen on its bitter flavour, which pulled its marks down. If you love strong, dark chocolate, though, it could still be one to try, since taste is such a personal thing. Adding a splash more milk could also help soften that sharp edge.
How the taste test worked
Which? gathered a panel of 68 hot chocolate lovers, who got through more than 500 cups between them. Each drink was tasted blind in a private booth, so nobody knew whether they were sipping a budget option or a high-end brand. That helped make sure people judged each cup on taste alone, rather than being swayed by fancy packaging or a well-known name. It’s a fairer way to compare products, as we can all be influenced by what’s printed on the box.
The drinks were scored on flavour, smell, appearance and texture, looking at everything from sweetness and bitterness to creaminess. Flavour made up half of the final score, smell counted for 20%, and appearance and texture made up 15% each. A couple of popular supermarket options, Sainsbury’s 72% Dark Chocolate Flakes and Tesco Finest Belgian 70% Dark Hot Chocolate Flakes, weren’t included because they couldn’t be found when the test took place. That means there could still be a hidden bargain or two waiting on the shelves.
Making a better mug of cocoa at home is simple.
Whichever brand you choose, a few simple tricks can make a big difference to how your hot chocolate turns out. Warm your milk gently on the hob rather than letting it boil, then add the flakes and whisk until they’ve completely melted. This helps create that smooth, velvety finish and stops lumps from forming at the bottom of the mug.
If you find dark chocolate too bitter, try stirring in a little sugar, honey, or a drop of vanilla to soften the taste. A pinch of cinnamon or a few mini marshmallows can also turn a simple drink into something special on a cold night. And if you’re buying for a gift, picking up a pouch now could save you a last-minute dash closer to Christmas. Popular options can sell out as the festive season gets busier, so it helps to plan ahead.
