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Best hot chocolate: cheap own-brand beats Hotel Chocolat
We taste tested premium hot chocolate and found a brilliant supermarket buy
Whether it's a treat for yourself or a gift, our taste test has revealed the best hot chocolate to indulge in.
We asked a panel of hot chocolate fans to blind-taste 10 premium products from the likes of Hotel Chocolat, Knoops, M&S and Whittard.
Our test uncovered three Best Buys worth snapping up, including a great-value M&S hot chocolate that outshone pricier brands.
Some premium picks disappointed, so make sure you check the full rundown of results below to avoid a lacklustre mugful.
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Best luxury hot chocolate to buy
We focused on products with 70% cocoa solids, either flakes or ground chocolate, as these were the most popular and comparable type.
A luxury brand topped the scoreboard, but we also found a great-value supermarket hot chocolate for £4.50.
Best Buy: Knoops 70% Extra Dark Hot Chocolate Flakes – 75%
£10.95 for 250g (£4.38 per 100g)
Knoops is our top pick if you're looking for a tasty and luxurious hot chocolate.
Not only was it rated among the tastiest on test, it's also vegan friendly and one of the lowest in sugar per 100g.
Our tasters loved the flavour, aroma and mouthfeel, with the majority finding the strength of chocolate flavour and creaminess just right.
Some did find it a little bitter, though, so it's best for those who prefer a rich cocoa flavour.
Available from Amazon and Knoops.
Best Buy and Great Value: M&S Belgian 70% Dark Hot Chocolate Flakes – 74%
£4.50 for 250g (£1.80 per 100g)
If you're looking for brilliant taste on a budget, M&S dark hot chocolate flakes are worth snapping up.
At just £4.50, this supermarket own-label is less than half the price of most other luxury hot chocolates we tested.
Despite being the cheapest on test, our panel gave it top marks across the board for its delicious flavour and creamy mouthfeel, resulting in our Best Buy and Great Value recommendation.
While the packaging might not be as fancy-looking as some, it's a great choice if you're after a taste of luxury without a steeper price tag.
Available from M&S (in-store only) and Ocado.
Best Buy: Bullion 70% Dark Ecuador Hot Chocolate – 74%
£12.50 for 250g (£5 per 100g)
Completing our trio of Best Buys is Bullion's single-origin Ecuador hot chocolate.
Its rich chocolatey flavour hit the spot for our tasters, and it was also rated the best-looking hot chocolate with 80% finding the colour just right.
It's the second most expensive one we tested, but it's worth splashing out on if you're looking for something extra special.
Available from Bullion.
Hotel Chocolat Classic 70% Hot Chocolate – 73%
£8.50 for 250g (£3.40 per 100g)
Hotel Chocolat may have just missed out on a Best Buy, but it's still one to consider if you're after a satisfying way to get your hot chocolate fix.
It scored well on both texture and flavour, with most finding the sweetness and bitterness well balanced.
It's not quite as pricey as Knoops and Bullion, so it's a good choice if you're after a high-end hot chocolate that won't blow the budget.
Available from Amazon, Hotel Chocolat and Ocado.
Best milk frothers: get our verdict on the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser and other hot chocolate makers
How Whittard, Kokoa, Pump Street and other hot chocolate brands compare
The rest of the hot chocolates we tested proved less impressive overall. Some of the priciest options, such as Pump Street's premium pack, disappointed our panel, so it's worth choosing carefully.
- Cartwright & Butler Dark Chocolate Drinking Chocolate – 69% Impressed on appearance and creaminess, but the flavour didn't quite match up to higher scorers, with most finding the strength of chocolate too weak. It also has the highest sugar content per 100g. £12 for 250g (£2.88 per 100g). Available from Cartwright & Butler.
- Harry's 70% ‘The Dark One' Hot Chocolate – 66% Our tasters liked the mouthfeel of this one, but more than half found the flavour too strong and bitter. It's best suited to those who like a strong, dark cocoa flavour. £8.65 for 300g (£4.80 per 100g). Available from Harry's.
- Whittard 70% Cocoa Hot Chocolate – 66% Rated well on appearance and aroma, but not everyone was a fan of the flavour, with most finding it lacked sweetness and was overly bitter. More than two thirds also felt that it wasn't creamy enough. £10 for 300g (£3.33 per 100g). Available from Amazon and Whittard.
- Kokoa Collection 70% Classic Hot Chocolate – 63% Not a big hit, with the majority of our testers rating the flavour as too weak and lacking sweetness, while 62% thought that the mouthfeel wasn't creamy enough. £7 for 210g (£3.33 for 100g). Available from Kokoa Collection and Ocado.
- Pump Street 70% Bali Drinking Chocolate – 63% Despite being the most expensive on test, Pump Street was one of the lowest-scoring hot chocolates. Most thought that the creaminess was lacking and half found the flavour too bitter. £13.95 for 200g (£6.98 per 100g). Available from Pump Street Chocolate.
- Chococo 70% Madagascar origin Hot Chocolate Flakes – 61% Another pricey option that missed the mark for our tasters as more than half thought that it was too bitter. £9.50 for 200g (£4.75 per 100g). Available from Chococo.
Best after dinner mints: find out how cheap supermarket mint chocolates from Morrisons and Tesco measured up to After Eights in our blind taste test
How to make the best hot chocolate at home
Follow our simple tips to elevate your homemade hot chocolate for an extra indulgent treat.
- Heat, but don't boil, your milk Even if you're using hot water to melt the chocolate nibs or dissolve your chocolate powder, topping up with fridge-cold milk isn't a great idea if you want a creamy texture. Just keep a close eye on your stove or microwave as you don't want it to boil over.
- Whisk your mixture as it heats This will melt your chocolate quickly and evenly, and help you achieve a frothier finish.
- Play around with toppings and flavours Adding ginger or mint syrup will make your hot chocolate feel festive, as will garnishing with marshmallows, whipped cream or extra chocolate shavings on top. You can also sprinkle chocolate powder – or spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon – on top for a warming edge.
How to make Baileys hot chocolate
Adding a splash of Baileys is an easy way to make your standard mug of cocoa extra special.
Simply make the hot chocolate as per the pack instructions, then add 50ml of Baileys and finish off with some whipped cream. Check out the full Baileys hot chocolate recipe.
Find out which cheaper supermarket Irish Cream liqueurs were a good substitute for Baileys in our Irish cream liqueur taste test.
See more of our independent taste test recommendations including the best champagne, red wine and smoked salmon.
How we tested hot chocolate
The hot chocolates were tested in November 2023 by a large panel of consumers who regularly buy and drink dark hot chocolate. The panel broadly represents the demographic profile of adults in the UK.
Each hot chocolate was assessed by 74 people. The drinks were made according to the pack instructions, and all of them were made with semi-skimmed milk and heated to the same temperature.
The panelists rated the taste, mouthfeel, aroma and appearance of each product, and told us what they liked and disliked about each one.
The taste test was blind, so the panelists didn’t know which brand they were trying. The order in which they sampled the hot chocolate was rotated to avoid any bias and each panelist was in a private booth so they couldn’t discuss what they were tasting or be influenced by others.
The overall score is based on:
- 50% flavour
- 20% aroma
- 15% mouthfeel
- 15% appearance
How to recycle hot chocolate packaging
Metal tins, cardboard tubes and boxes can usually be reused or recycled unless stated otherwise.
Soft plastic sachets can't be put in regular household recycling, but you may be able to take them to recycling drop-off points at larger supermarkets.
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