Clipper Cleanse With Benefits Citrus, Nettle & Fennel

 

We love this, which is as far as I can recall our first experience of the Clipper brand. Cleanse With Benefits is a herb blend - the ingredients are Nettle (46%), fennel seed (40%), birch, natural lemon flavouring (5%), lemon peel (2%), natural lime flavouring (2%); with all ingredients organic, apart from the lime flavouring.  I have to say that while I am absolutely in favour of organic products, I am not in favour of the Organic labelling, as that involves paying an organisation to come and inspect your soil, etc, which in the UK can be several hundreds of pounds for even a small producer. 

This tea is crisp and refreshing, hot or cold, with an upfront bright citric feel which is then enriched with a sweet licorice note from the fennel, along with nips of aniseed. It remains bright even cold the next day in the cup or teapot. A very satisfying and beautiful drink.  Brilliant. £2.50 for 20 bags from Tesco.  Excellent value for money. 


Date: Sept 2023   Score: 10 

Horlicks Chocolate

 

Horlicks is malty goodness. This is Horlicks with chocolate flavouring. Just as nice, but with the twist of chocolate. Very sweet, but so yummy! I'm not sure which I prefer - straight Horlicks or chocolate flavoured Horlicks. I think there's room for both, and it's nice to have a little twist for a change, though on the whole I prefer my Horlicks straight, and my hot chocolate straight. 

This is cool because it's instant. Just add hot water and stir. 

Date: Sept 2023    Score: 8 

Me To You Bear Hugs Hot Chocolate Bear Melt

 

We love these hot chocolate melts. There's a cute chocolate shape - in this case a teddy bear - and you put it in a mug and pour over hot milk. The chocolate slowly melts releasing marshmallows. This was a wonderful hot chocolate drink. Chocolatey, smooth, and with just the right amount of sweetness. It was on sale in Tesco leading up to Mother's Day (Phocea and I bought it for Chrissie for Mother's Day). I've not seen it since, and a search on the internet couldn't find it either. Perhaps it'll come back next year?  We all hope so!

Date: April 2023   Score: 10  

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