Galaxy Ultimate Frothy Hot Chocolate

 

A Christmas themed sleeve for the Galaxy Frothy Ultimate Hot Chocolate. Very cute. Instructions are to use four heaped teaspoons and pour on either hot water or milk. We used water for this first experience. I tend to put milk in instant hot chocolate anyway, and the girls like a squirt of cream, often with sprinkles. I also sometimes put in a spoonful of real hot chocolate, just to give some added depth. But for reviews I just follow the instructions. This is modest hot chocolate. Quite pleasant and inoffensive, but rather less body and chocolate flavour than average. It seems it would be better to make with milk, and we'll give that a go next time. 

Date: Nov 2020    Score:  3 1/2 

Now called Galaxy Ultimate Frothy (Fabulously frothy hot chocolate), this is thicker and more frothy than I recall from 2020, though still a little bit lacking in chocolate. The main ingredient is whey permeate, which is a by-product of cheese making, and is a cost-effective milk powder substitute and bulking agent - it is likely the whey permeate that results in the thick body that produces the "froth".  Only 9% cocoa powder and 3% milk chocolate - the rest is sugar and other ingredients.  Price is £2.60 for 275g from Tesco (or £2.00 with a Clubcard membership). We make it with some milk and mostly hot water. It is an attractive milky drink with some chocolate flavour. 

Date: August 2021   Score: 4 

Montezuma's Dark Drinking Chocolate

 

Gift from a friend. The disks are slightly discoloured, and the Montezuma website doesn't have the drinking chocolate for sale at the moment, and though there are bags still available on Amazon there is a note saying: "These details were last updated on 9 October 2017", so the chocolate is likely not fresh. I warmed up some milk in a jug then put in the disc and stirred, as per the instructions. The instructions then say to wait and be patient - but meanwhile the milk is getting cold, so I popped my jug into the microwave to to keep it warm, then stirred a bit more and put it back, and then stirred again before serving.  

Ingredients: Cocoa Solids 73% Organic Dark Chocolate (Organic Cocoa Mass 67%, Organic Sugar 25%, Organic Cocoa Butter 8% & Organic Vanilla Extract).

When my friend made it for me, the hot chocolate was fairly bitty with spots of chocolate floating around in the milk, and the milk was not creamy. So I am glad I returned it to the microwave for more warming and stirring. I think therein lies the secret to success with these discs.  

The final result is a pleasant creamy hot chocolate with a hint of vanilla. Quite satisfying, but not indulgent and not characterful. Pleasant is what it is. Most people would find this acceptable, but few would find it wonderful. 

Date: Nov 2020    Score: 5