I tried supermarket own-brand hot chocolate – the winner is better and cheaper than Cadbury, Galaxy, Starbucks and Costa
WHEN the weather turns cold, nothing warms you up better than a mug of hot chocolate – especially when topped with marshmallows and whipped cream.
Beyond the big brands such as Cadbury and Galaxy, there are also a whole load of supermarket brands to try.
And chains such as Costa and Starbucks are also selling tins you can buy at home.
Lynsey Hope put 11 tubs to the test, from quality cocoa tins to budget-friendly family tubs.
As fun as it sounds, it wasn’t an entirely enjoyable experience with some powders struggling to dissolve and lumpy.
Others were perfectly smooth and warming – but which was crowned the winner?
Costa Hot Chocolate, 300g – £3.15 (£1.05 per 100g)
Love a hot chocolate in the store, but sadly this is nothing like you’d buy in the restaurant.
It’s very rich with a bitter flavour and this was extremely hard to mix properly. It doesn’t dissolve properly and it’s expensive.
It contains the highest level of cocoa powder at 36 per cent, but taste wise it’s not right.
Don’t waste your money thinking you’re getting a luxury, it’s not.
- Taste: 4/10
- Value: 4/10
- Overall score: 4/10
Cadbury Original Hot Chocolate, 250g – £3 (£1.20 per 100g)
This Cadbury hot chocolate is as classic as they come. I loved the malty sweetness, creamy texture and slight hint of vanilla in this recipe.
It’s no wonder it’s such a crowd pleaser. If I’m being picky I’d say it was a little more sickly than others.
But otherwise, topped with lashings of whipped cream and marshmallows, you can’t go wrong.
- Taste: 9/10
- Value: 8/10
- Overall score: 9/10
Drinking Chocolate by Sainsbury’s, 300g – £3.50 (or £1.16 per 100g)
Of the supermarket brands, this was by far the best.
This Sainsbury’s hot chocolate impressed me with its natural cocoa flavour and the straightforward ingredients list, which was free from preservatives.
Simply mix 4 teaspoons with warm milk to prepare.
It’s not the cheapest but definitely worth a few extra pennies.
It did take a little longer than others to dissolve fully – but as they say, good things come to those who wait. Delicious.
- Taste: 10/10
- Value: 8/10
- Overall score: 10/10
Lidl Bellarom Instant Hot Chocolate, 400g – £1.69 (42.2p per 100g)
Sadly this was quite unpleasant. You’re meant to add four or five teaspoons to hot water and mix, but no matter how much I stirred, this was still lump.
It’s cheap but was gloopy and oily and the chocolate flavour didn’t come through at all.
Strange ingredients on the label too, including coconut oil and thickening agents – plus salt. It’s not for me.
- Taste: 3/10
- Value: 4/10
- Overall score: 3/10
Morrisons The Best Indulgent Hot Chocolate, 300g – £3.75 (£1.25 per 100g)
I was quite excited to try this, but it was strangely thick with an odd taste and actually, more expensive even than Cadbury.
It claims to be made with Belgian Chocolate but that powder only makes up five per cent of the ingredients.
There is still 26 per cent reduced fat cocoa powder on top, which I thought was bit deceiving. You are not getting what you pay for here.
- Taste: 4/10
- Value: 3/10
- Overall score: 4/10
Drinking Chocolate by Asda, 500g – £2.50 (50p per 100g)
Round of applause to Asda, this drinking chocolate is just as good as Cadbury, if not better, and it’s a whopping 70p cheaper per 100g.
It had a lovely, smooth and velvety taste. It contains 25 per cent cocoa, which is the same as Cadbury, and quite good for a budget option.
No artificial colours or flavours and without the nasty thickening agents added to some of the others.
It’s a good sized tub too that will last a while. A brilliant, budget-friendly option.
- Taste: 9/10
- Value: 10/10
- Overall score: 9/10
Galaxy Drinking Chocolate, 500g – £4.05 (81p per 100g)
This is a big tub and actually works out better value than it first appears.
It’s easy to make, mixed easily and really hit the spot for a warming winter treat.
The iconic Galaxy chocolate flavour really came through with a velvety smooth feel in the mouth.
Absolutely delicious with cream and marshmallows.
- Taste: 9/10
- Value: 8/10
- Overall score: 8/10
Starbucks Signature 42 per cent Hot Chocolate, 330g – £4.70 (£1.42 per 100g)
Simply mix five teaspoons with milk for your Starbucks hot chocolate – but bare in mind it’s a smaller tin than most so it might not last that long for the price.
It does feel indulgent, smooth and creamy with a lovely rich flavour without being too overwhelming.
Delicious really, but also one of the most fattening with 186 calories a cup.
- Taste: 9/10
- Value: 6/10
- Overall score: 7/10
Aldi Dairyfine Instant Hot Chocolate, 400g – £1.69 (42.2p per 100g)
Aldi’s offering had a slight whiff of the sort of chocolate you might buy abroad in France or Spain.
There wasn’t a lot of cocoa powder in it but there as a little actual milk chocolate and this flavour really came through.
It had a nice texture, mixed well and after mixing with hot water, it was ready to drink in minutes.
It was one of the lowest calories at just 115 a cup. It was joint cheapest and considering the price, it wasn’t bad at all.
- Taste: 7/10
- Value: 8/10
- Overall score: 7/10
Tesco Cocoa Powder, 250g – £1.59 (63.6p per 100g)
Very strong in flavour, almost coffee-like but it is made from 100 per cent cocoa powder so no nasties and it’s not overly sweet or sickly like some of the other own brands.
It’s quite bitter but if you want a strong cup, it might suit. It’s reasonably priced – but the middle of the road taste-wise.
- Taste: 6/10
- Value: 6/10
- Overall score: 6/10
M&S Drinking Chocolate, 300g – £3.50 (£1.17 per 100g)
A lovely silky and rich chocolate drink which felt creamy and luxurious to drink with a lovely, chocolatey flavour.
It did take a bit of stirring when mixed with milk and the powder took some time to dissolve, but it was worth the wait.
Simple ingredients too, just cocoa and sugar. No emulsifiers, additives or other chemicals. Delish!
- Taste: 8/10
- Value: 7/10
- Overall score: 8/10
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