Hotel Chocolat's Classic 70% Hot Chocolate Flakes has been named the best luxury hot chocolate in a new Which? taste test, scoring 71% overall and beating rivals including M&S and Knoops.
The consumer group's panel of 68 people compared eight luxury dark hot chocolates from the high street. The winning 'best buy' was described as a 'great-tasting, luxurious' drink, with most tasters saying it had 'the perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness'.
Top scorers and prices
The Hotel Chocolat flakes cost £9.95 for 280g, working out at just over £1 per serving. The product was deemed a 'lovely Christmas gift or stocking filler' as a 'high-end hot chocolate that still beats splashing out at a fancy coffee chain'. It is available in Hotel Chocolat stores, as well as online at Ocado or in Tesco.
M&S took second place with its Belgian 70% Dark Hot Chocolate Flakes (£6 for 250g), scoring 69%. It was awarded a 'great value' accolade for delivering 'brilliant taste on a budget' at less than half the price of most products tested. Tasters praised its 'perfect' level of creaminess and impressive mouthfeel.
Melt 70% Dark Hot Chocolate (£12.99 for 250g) came in joint second with 69%. It scored well on creaminess and was deemed one of the best-looking hot chocolates, with two-thirds of tasters claiming the colour was 'just right'. Some found the bitterness levels 'too strong', making it a choice for those who prefer a darker cocoa flavour. It can be ordered online or from Melt Chocolates in Notting Hill.
Full rankings and notable omissions
Chococo 70% Madagascar Origin Hot Chocolate Flakes (£14.50 for 200g) came third with 65%, described as having a 'nice flavour' but a less impressive mouthfeel. Knoops 72% Extra Dark Chocolate Flakes (£13.50 for 250g) scored 64%, with just under half of tasters deeming it 'not creamy enough'.
Kokoa Collection 70% Dominican Republic Flakes (£9.50 for 175g) scored 60%, with over half of tasters agreeing the flavour was too weak and needed to be sweeter. Cocoa Canopy 75% Super Dark Hot Chocolate Melting Beads (£5.95 for 225g) scored 57%, with around two-thirds of people declaring it not sweet or creamy enough. Islands 75% Dark Chocolate Buttons (£11 for 200g) rounded out the test with 54%, losing points over its 'bitter' flavour.
Which? noted that Sainsbury's 72% Dark Chocolate Flakes (£5 for 155g) and Tesco Finest Belgian 70% Dark Hot Chocolate Flakes (£5.75 for 250g) were not included as they were 'unavailable at the time of testing'.
Taste test methodology
Jessica Carson, Which? taste test expert, said: 'A velvety hot chocolate is the ultimate winter treat, whether given as a gift or kept all to yourself – though knowing whether to splash out on premium brands can be tricky. Which?'s blind taste test separates the lacklustre cups from the cream of the crop. We've crowned a standout Best Buy alongside a brilliant Great Value pick – so whichever you choose, you know it's well worth the whisk.'
The panel of 68 hot chocolate lovers tried more than 500 cups between them, with each cup blind-tasted in a private booth. Drinks were ranked on flavour, aroma, appearance, and texture, with final scores made up of 50% flavour, 20% aroma, 15% appearance, and 15% mouthfeel.
