This new hot chocolate forms part of the Christmas drinks range at Costa. Christmas shopping can take it out of you and for the sake of refreshment we decided to stop at Costa and sample their seasonal goodies.
I love Black Forest Gateaux, although it is something I have always felt was a bit retro, given its popularity in the eighties. I have never grown out of the stuff, and am pleased to see it’s having a bit of a revival at the minute. I’ve seen it on the menu at Fortnum & Masons and several other posh cafes, and I have been enjoying its come back.
Although the gateaux itself wasn't available in Costa their new hot chocolate is named after it and contains luscious amounts of cherry sauce and chocolate. The drink in the picture is the version without cream, but if you want to go the full hog and recreate the cake properly they will gladly laden your mug with cream to finish too.
I actually like fruity flavoured hot chocolates, but they aren’t that common as I think they need a special kind of sweet tooth (rather like mine). I felt the flavour of this drink was perfect and full on, and was everything I hoped for. The hot milky chocolate was soothing and rich, but the cherry syrup just added a nice bit of tartness and a fruity burst to break it all up. The cherry and chocolate flavours worked rather well together, and produced a fabulous hot chocolate that was indeed reminiscent of black forest gateaux. Personally I loved the stuff, and felt it was the perfect afternoon pick-me-up for the tired shopper. Now if they served it along with a slice of the cake it’s named after, now that would be heaven!
By Cinabar
First of all im addicted to Costa's Black Forest Hot Chocolate its amazing, secondly i would like to correct you on the syrup that is used in it, it is not Monin's Cherry Syrup but actually Monins Blackberry Syrup...
ReplyDeleteContacted Costa's as ive purchased a bottle of it from the internet...
Actually, you should have both. The blackberry syrup and cherry sauce on top ;)
DeleteBlackberry??? That's shocking! That means its not proper black forest... :-/
ReplyDeleteIt's true, the syrup they use is called 'Mure' which is French for blackberry. I'm not sure what cherry sauce they use (and I tried multiple times to get a glimpse at the squeezy bottle) but if anyone knows then please post.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it matters that the syrups they use aren't that what would normally be included in a Black Forest Gateaux, the important factor is that it tastes like it.
Hi there, I love this hot chocolate too. I managed to have a peek at the sauce bottle and it's a Costa own brand made my Fuerst Day Lawson ( FDL). I've been on the website but I haven't spent enough time looking around. I'm sure there is a way to buy it :) I hope this helps.
DeleteTrue, it certainly works when it is all put together.
ReplyDeleteIf you go on coffee creations web site it is listed as blackberry
ReplyDeleteI had another of these today - and a Costa mince pie ultimate Christmas treat. Going to be so sad when they disappear in the new year.
ReplyDeleteToday I also saw the fdl cherry sauce bottle but as yet not discovered where to buy it, this is a perfect hot choc, no good for my January diet!
ReplyDeleteAhh.... its not on the menu any more :-( Something else I have to wait another year for.
ReplyDeleteI have emailed them about the sauces will let you know if I vet a response . Sam
ReplyDeleteOh and also monin do an actual blackforest syrup as well as blackberry and cherry!!!
ReplyDeleteWow - so why would Costa use a different syrup?
ReplyDeleteI think the syrup is black cherry! The one that goes into bottom of cup
ReplyDeleteToday I asked in my local Costa. They said that it WAS blackberry syrup in the hot chocolate, but cherry sauce on top of the cream. The lady I spoke to said they knew Monin made a black forest sauce, but taste tests had shown the blackberry was more popular - although she couldn't tell the difference between them herself!
ReplyDeleteI am a fan... Love it..I looked at FDL website.. it seems that they don't sell for individuals but retailers.. I carried on with my search and found Dr Pepper Cherry dessert topper 340g from candyhero.com website.. Total cost +delivery £7.15.. a bargain!
ReplyDeleteI ordered a bottle and I will give it a try with Monin blackberry syrup. Merry Xmas and happy new year.
Can I just add - its back for 2014!!! :-) Yum!
ReplyDeleteActually, its a Blackberry AND Cherry syrup. I worked for Costa. And then the syrup on top is actually Monin Cherry Sauce. Comes in a squeezy bottle. :)
ReplyDeleteThis year it is the blackberry and cherry, but it used to be blackberry syrup.
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