I’m feeling a bit like Alice in Wonderland when she finds herself in a hall with many doors, all of them locked, then finds a key which she can use to open one small door, which is far to small for her to fit through. Then a small bottle appears labeled “Drink Me,” which she does and she shrinks to the right size to fit through the door. I put together a taste test for myself of three different drinking chocolates, set them out in little glasses, and half expected to find little labels that say “Drink Me” on them. What do you think magical drinking chocolate might do?
I’ve picked up several different brands of drinking chocolate mixes over the past couple of weeks so that I could sit down and taste them all at the same time and figure out which one was the best and if any of them were worth their salt. I bought (1) World Market’s European Deep Dark Drinking Chocolate, (2) Trader Joe’s Sipping Chocolate, and (3) E. Guittard’s Grand Cacao Drinking Chocolate. 
World Market’s European Deep Dark Drinking Chocolate
Ingredients: sugar, cocoa powder (dutch process), why (milk), nonfat dry milk, canola oil, corn syrup solids, natural and artificial flavors, guar gum, salt.
1 serving size (3 Tbsp.): 170 calories, 2.5 g fat, 2 g dietary fiber, 24 g sugarDirections: Place 2-3 tablespoons mix into mug, add 6 oz. hot (not boiling) water, stir and enjoy.
Trader Joe’s Sipping Chocolate
Ingredients: cocoa powder, cane sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter.
1 serving size (3 Tbsp.): 90 calories, 1 g fat, 6 g dietary fiber, 15 g sugar
Directions: Stir 3 tablespoons of mix into 1/3 cup of hot milk.
E. Guittard Grand Cacao Drinking Chocolate
Ingredients: cocoa (Dutch processed with alkali), pure cane sugar, bittersweet chocolate (cacao beans, pure cane sugar, cocoa butter, soya lecithin), natural flavor.
1 serving size (4 Tbsp.): 150 calories, 7 g fat, 5 g dietary fiber, 19 g sugar
Directions: Combine 4 tablespoons Grand Cacao and 1 cup milk in saucepan. heat on medium-low with constant whisking until hot but not boiling. Pour into cups and serve immediately.
I mixed up a single serving of each according to the directions on the container, poured a small glass of each and proceeded to sip a bit of each. I quickly ruled out World Market’s drinking chocolate as my favorite as it just wasn’t as rich as the other two. 
Part of this was due to the fact that it was made with water (as per the instructions). To test this I made up a serving using milk, and although it was creamier, the flavors still weren’t as rich as those provided by the other two brands. Looking at the ingredients I think I may be able to attribute this to the fact that there isn’t any cocoa butter present, which has got to affect the flavor. It’s also the only mix with milk in it. I also take issue with it being marketed as a drinking chocolate when there is no true chocolate present, just cocoa powder.
It was more difficult to choose a favorite between Trader Joe’s and E. Guittard’s, partially due to them being quite different. 
Trader Joe’s was much thicker and much more rich. I may have chosen this as a favorite except that it was a bit on the sweet side for me. I just truly am a dark chocolate lovin’ gal. If the sugar content were less I think I would be absolutely head over heels in love with this one.
Ultimately I think my favorite was E. Guittard’s.
It came across as being a bit more bitter, though this may be due to the fact that the ratio of mix to milk was not as concentrated as per the instructions (3 tablespoons mix to 1/2 cup milk in Trader Joe’s as opposed to 2 tablespoons mix to 1/2 cup milk in E. Guittard’s). The actual sugar content is pretty similar (5 g sugar per tablespoon of Trader Joe’s as opposed to 4.75 g sugar per tablespoon of E. Guittard), but I’m not sure how that relates to the ratio of other ingredients in the mixes. Ultimately this is the one that I wanted to finish.
I now know that I personally prefer a drinking chocolate mix that has actual chocolate in it, not just cocoa. The flavors are just more pronounced and rich. But that may just be me. As the host of my favorite TV show (Reading Rainbow) when I was a little kid would say during the book review segment, “You don’t have to take my word for it.” Go out and taste for yourself!
* Is there a good one that I missed? Let me know!
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
I like the Hershey’s chcolate mix but my altime favorite is malt
btw, these pictures rock!
Hey Rache, its me Chantelle, I’d forgotten my screen name. :) Anyway, Leave it to you to taste test drinking chocolate, have you tried mixing flavors into it, the kind you put in coffee drinks?
Talk to you soon.
Chan
I have never had drinking chocolate! I think it is time. I loved Reading Rainbow!
I love this little taste test Fuj! the little glasses and pics are the coolest! I have not tried any of those but I do have a simmering hot pot of your hot coca from yesterday on the stove right now! I can hardly wait!
Have you tried Mariebelle’s? I like their aztec hot chocolate, it is a bit spicy but chocolatey.
Schokinag. 79% cocoa, self proclaimed to be the darkest you can get. “Made with tiny morsels of real extreme dark chocolate”.
I love this drinking chocolate. I’m totally with you on the dark and not too sweet. I have been very happy with Starbuck’s “Sipping Chocolate” as well.
yum! i love drinking chocolate. i was just eyeing the one at tj’s the other day. i love dark chocolate too, so will take a look at world market. love, love, love these little glasses though – where did you find them? tres chic!
Thanks for the research and the link. It’s good to get an opinion from a refined palate like yours.
Did you mix it with milk or soy milk, because I thought you were lactose intolerant and I’m having to eliminate dairy for adam?
Christina– I bought the glasses in Japan! I found them at our grocery store–they were actually filled with really yummy creamy custard. I fell in love them AND the custard, so made sure I bought several.
Melissa– We actually discovered a couple of years ago that I’m not truly lactose intolerant. I can’t drink regular American dairy because of some of the hormones that are used in our style of dairy farming. I can drink organic milk with no problems. Go figure. I can drink milk to my hearts content in other countries though. Sigh. However, I always have both soy milk and organic milk in the fridge and have since tried both the Trader Joe’s mix and Guittard mix with soy milk and they’re both still really good! The hot cocoa recipe also works well with soy milk. :-)
My personal favorite is Cadbury’s Drinking Chocolate. Made with milk (even non-fat) it’s really fantastic. Not too sweet, rich, creamy and super-chocolaty. As much as I love the Trader Joe’s drinking chocolate (which is, apparently, only available around the holidays) I think the Cadbury one is even better. It can usually be found at Cost Plus World Market.
I love this post- I was actually at trader joe’s the other day wondering” is this good” i have a shelf full of ones that did not live up to my expectations. i will buy both and give it a try!!!
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I have recently discovered a absolutely incredible drinking chocolate. It is actually CHOCOLATE powder not cocoa powder. All you add it hot water, milk, coffee, juice, or wine. By adding less liquid it turns into fudge, fondue, hot fudge. By adding a little flower you make brownies or cake. But in the end it makes the most incredible drink!
It is Muter Traveler’s Chocolate, Muter also makes thick European style drinking chocolate – this is like chocolate gold….
Just a little hint Trader Joe’s Sipping Chocolate is actually Caffe D’Amore Bellagio Sipping Chocolate.
Try Godiva hot cocoa. It would have been your 1st choice.