Sonnentor It's all good! Calming Tummy Herbal Tea Blend

Don't know where we got this from (or when), but we've been drinking it a fair bit recently. It's nice. Gently flavoured, though with a bit of chilli burn and a hint of licorice (neither of which are in the ingredients - I wonder if the spice and licorice comes from the calendula?).  It also has notes of dampness, which may come from the yarrow. Overall quite herby and pleasant. A versatile drink. 

More about the Sonnentor company and their products here: Sonnentor.com

Date: Feb 2023   Score: 6 

Tesco Finest Belgian Hot Chocolate Flakes

 

Impressive looking, but when it comes down to it, it doesn't matter if the chocolate if solid, flaked or powdered, once dissolved it will taste the same. Over Christmas we all had a chocolate santa with marshmallows which we placed in a cup and poured hot milk over to dissolve. That was great fun. These flakes a little fiddly, and seem more of a gimmick than a practical or improved method of making hot chocolate. I followed instructions and used six teaspoons (generous ones at that, and with the spare flakes shown on the plate, tipped in and stirred, just for good measure), and yet at the end what we have is chocolate flavoured hot milk rather than proper hot chocolate. It's milky and rather sweet. This is  not proper hot chocolate. I won't be buying these again.

Date: Jan 2023    Score: 3 

Green & Blacks' Organic Cocoa

 

This is an organic cocoa, so is likely to come from the Dominican Republic, as they are the leading producers of organic cocoa beans. This is proper cocoa - there's no added sugar. I notice that when a product is called "drinking chocolate" it is generally half cocoa powder and half sugar. When it is "instant hot chocolate" it is a blend of cocoa powder, sugar, dried milk, and chemicals. Cocoa is just cocoa powder (plus an ingredient to stop it from clumping together). We made this as per the instructions, but then found it a little wimpy, and not quite sweet enough. I topped up Chrissie's with instant chocolate, milk, and a bit of sugar. It was lovely. I kept mine as per the instructions. And I'm gradually getting used to it. It's not bitter, and it does have a subtle, silky and delicious chocolate flavour. I think next time I will put in twice the amount of cocoa that is suggested, and see how that goes. 

Date: Nov 2022   Score: 6 

Morrisons Drinking Chocolate

 

Smooth and creamy. Not too sweet. Gentle and pleasant chocolate flavour. Easy drinking and commercial. Could do with more character, but a decent everyday chocolate drink. 


Date: Sept 2022   Score:  5 

Morrisons Hot Chocolate Instant Drink

 

Quite acceptable. Mild chocolate flavour. Not too sweet. Easy drinking. 



Date: Sept 2022   Score: 6 

Cadbury Instant Hot Chocolate

 

We bought this when staying at a Premier Inn near Tower Bridge in London because our supply of Tesco hot chocolate that we had brought with us was running out. It cost £4.00 for 400g from the Co-op opposite the hotel, though would only have cost £2.50 if we'd bought it in our local Tesco.  The Tesco Hot Chocolate cost us £1.60 for 400g. We did a blind taste test of the Tesco and the Cadbury. One of us preferred the Cadbury, one preferred the Tesco, and one couldn't tell the difference. Go figure. 

It makes a nice smooth chocolate drink. It tastes smoother and richer if some milk is used as well (or instead of) the water. That is true of all instant hot chocolates. It tastes more chocolaty if some cocoa powder is mixed in. And best of all is mixing in some cocoa powder and some milk. And save your money and buy Tesco or Lidl hot chocolate and Tesco or Lidl cocoa, blend the powder together and make with part milk and part water. Job done. Go to bed with a smile on your face. 


Date: Jan 2022    Score: 5 

Sainsbury's Mint Flavour Hot Chocolate

 

Christmas is coming so Sainsbury's bring out their Christmas themed hot chocolate powders.  The Orange was really nice. This Mint, is also good, though a little less so than the Orange. The mint flavour is not quite perky enough, and the chocolate fades into the background somewhat. Milk and sugar somewhat dominate, with the menthol from the mint making itself felt long before any chocolate gets a look in. Nice enough. Be fun to try a blend of the Orange and Mint. 

Date: Nov 2021   Score: 5

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Sainsbury's own label