Ice Cream of the Gods (Hotel Chocolat) By @SpectreUK

Ice Cream of the Gods sounds a bit big headed to me. After all, what will the master of all ice cream cones Mr Whippy say?

On a recent trip to Shrewsbury we passed by a Hotel Chocolat. Cinabar wanted to try their ice cream. It was a reasonably decent summers day, so we decided to eat in.

I tried the traditional raspberry sauce on mine, whereas Cinabar chose salted caramel. There was quite a zing to the raspberry sauce, and I enjoyed the Hotel Chocolat stick in the ice cream in place of the traditional Flake.

Made with Jersey Milk and Cream, the ice cream was creamy bliss, and is the first to be infused with pure cacao nibs. I also liked the waffle cone too, and the ice cream didn't melt through the base, as it sometimes does. It was quite cool in the shop though, and it looked like rain outside, so I guess that helped too.

Now, I'm sure you're thinking, Hotel Chocolat ice cream called, Ice Cream of the Gods, would be super expensive. Actually my ice cream cost just under a regular ice cream van price at £3.45, and was gorgeous. So, next time you pass by a Hotel Chocolat on a hot day, or maybe even if it looks like rain, give it a try. It'll make you feel Divine.

Love Ya Honey Drinking Chocolate (Hotel Chocolat) By @Cinabar

Hotel Chocolat has introduced a new flavour to their drinking chocolate range: Love Ya Honey. It is a blend of chocolate, honey, and caramel, though I have to admit I am not a fan of the name. Something about it feels a bit tacky, especially given Hotel Chocolat’s usual premium image. That said, I suspect it was a Valentine’s Day release designed as a gift, which would explain the choice. Unfortunately, that also means it might be a limited edition.

I made my drink using my Velvetiser, which heats and stirs the milk for a smooth, easy mix. The result was absolutely delicious. It is a rich hot chocolate with a noticeable sweetness, and the honey adds a lovely twist to the smooth milk chocolate. I usually go for caramel-based options, but this was a refreshing change.

While I might not love the name, Love Ya Honey Drinking Chocolate more than makes up for it in flavour. If it sticks around, I would happily buy it again.

Hotel Chocolate On Fire - Spicy Maple, Fire & Ice & Pannacotta [@NLi10]

 What if luxury chocolate was too spicy to eat enjoyably?  That's the mission Hotel Chocolate have gone on today.

As we hurriedly finish off the last of the Christmas chocolate before the Easter Bunny descends I found out these presents that I'd cunningly hidden with the video games so they could be savoured with guests as required.  But it's review day and I'm feeling brave so here we go!

First up - but only because I was worried I'd not be able to taste it at the end - raspberry pannacotta!

Expertly presented with dried raspberries

And the inside is a smooth tasty treat - with loads of flavours going on.  A pleasure to eat a whole tray of (but I won't!)

Next up the Spicy Maple - like American pancakes - but spicy!

The heat and the woody tastes mingle really nicely here - not sure why this isn't already a thing.  Spicy maple across the full range of everything for Halloween please!

I'd call this a medium heat - but easily manageable and I'd go back for a second quite happily.

This is listed as a tale of two halves - and is cooling mint, and habanero chilli!

I expected it to literally be left and right, but it seems to be layers which means you get a hit of both at the same time which seems to make the chili stronger.  As the mint fades fastest this one has a bit of after-kick (afterburner?) which will upset those that aren't massive spice fans.

I'd say this is closer to a hot spicy pizza level with the chilis on it - and probably more my taste for a savoury snack.  Here with the mint and chili it just tastes like someone's playing a prank with the after eight mints, but one that you'd accidentally fall for a few times with a  beer.

While I'm default vanilla & raspberry every time, it's the maple I'm actually looking forwards to trying again.  Maybe a spicy maple biscuit selection would be best, but these chocolate bites are pretty great too.

Better Way Bar Milk Chocolate & Praline Bar (Hotel Chocolat) – By @Cinabar

I wish I lived closer to a Hotel Chocolat branch, but there isn’t one in my city. Thankfully, I can order online, which helps, especially for getting my hands on their wonderful hot chocolate. A review of their new flavour is coming later this week. That said, I do miss browsing in-store, as it’s much harder to spot new products online. Still, I came across this Better Way Bar Milk Chocolate & Praline Bar and decided to give it a try. Praline is my thing, after all.

 

Unwrapping the bar, it looked substantial. The filling was all about the cocoa, rich and indulgent, with the chocolate taking centre stage. The praline had a nutty element, but the cocoa overpowered it somewhat. Texture is a big part of what I love in chocolate, and this bar delivered. Soft cherry pieces added a sharp fruitiness, while biscuit provided crunch. The combination worked well, though I would have liked more biscuit and cherry to mix things up further. I also wished for a stronger nut flavour, as that was the main draw for me.

As much as I enjoyed this treat, paying over £3 for a snack-sized chocolate bar felt a bit steep. Still, it was undeniably delicious.

Banoffee Pie Drinking Chocolate (Hotel Chocolat) By @Cinabar

I have no idea why we are getting so many new interesting hot chocolate flavours in spring compared to the winter offerings, but I’m all for it. Hot chocolate is not just for Christmas. I spotted this Banoffee Pie Drinking Chocolate in Hotel Chocolat and just couldn’t wait to give it a try.

Banana is a bit of a Marmite flavour; some people really hate it, but thankfully I like the stuff; I like real bananas, and I like banana flavour like you find in milkshakes. You can bring it all on. I heated some milk in my hot chocolate maker, added a sachet of Banoffee Pie Drinking Chocolate, and waited for it to finish mixing. You can make it on the hob too with some hot milk; I just can’t resist a kitchen gadget.

The drink smelled yummy, with loads of chocolate, sweetness, and banana. I gave it a sip, and the flavour was super soothing. There is plenty of caramel and banana, but it still wasn’t too sweet, and chocolate shone through too. It was an impressive mix, and despite the milkshake-like flavour,  it was actually quite a grown-up but fun drink. I can’t wait for my next cup. 

Caramelised Pineapple Drinking Chocolate (Hotel Chocolat @HotelChocolat ) By @Cinabar

It has felt like a bit of a slow period in terms of new hot chocolate flavours over Christmas, but Hotel Chocolat has gone for a very interesting-sounding new drink: Caramelised Pineapple Drinking Chocolate. 

The word pineapple triggers two things: one, a thought of tropical tastes, and two, an argument about whether it belongs on a pizza. It does, by the way. My taste buds have yet to find a pizza I don’t like; from ham and pineapple to pepperoni or meat feat, they are all good. 

Back to the hot chocolate. As I’m clearly not in the camp that has any aversion to pineapple, even I have to admit it sounds like a curious combination with chocolate in a drink. Inside the box are sachets, which you can either use in a hot chocolate maker or by heating milk on the hob. As a hot chocolate addict, I have a machine, so I added milk and poured in the sachet. It smelled amazing and was very fruity in aroma, and I couldn’t wait for it to finish so I could give it a try.

The drink itself isn’t quite as sweet as I thought it would be from the aroma. This drink is chocolate first and has gorgeous tones of cocoa, and the pineapple is well balanced. It is very much present and tastes zingy, tangy, and sweet, but the balance is in favour of the cocoa, which gives it an unexpected soothing tone too. This Caramelised Pineapple Drinking Chocolatedrink is a delight. It is different, but it works. Even the people who are anti pineapple on pizza might find they like it! 

Nuts About Raspberry Hot Chocolate (Hotel Chocolat) By @Cinabar

I don’t think there were any new flavours of hot chocolate from Hotel Chocolat over Christmas. I was super disappointed. Yes, they had the Black Forest Gateaux and even the Caramel and Clementine, but I tried those last year. As it is obvious from the blog, I’m all about the new varieties. 

Thankfully, for Valentine's Day, Mother’s Day, or even as it is just heading towards spring, it looks like we finally have a new flavour launch. Here we have Hotel Chocolat Nuts About Raspberry Hot Chocolate. So not just a fruity drink, but a fruity and nutty drink, sounds perfect. I opened up the sachet and dropped it into my Velvetiser hot chocolate gadget. You can make it on the hob with hot milk and a whisk if you don’t have a kitchen stacked with random gadgets like me.

The drink is fairly dark once made, but still has a lovely level of sweetness. There is the fruitiness of the raspberry, not too strong, just a nice sharp berry taste, then the smoothness of chocolate and hazelnut. It is a delight of a combination. It is a silky, smooth drink with a lovely balance of flavours. We may have had to wait quite a while for a new variety, but this Hotel Chocolat Nuts About Raspberry Hot Chocolate certainly ticks all the boxes now that it is here. 

Pumpkin Spice Drinking Chocolate (Hotel Chocolat) By @Cinabar

Today is my favourite kind of weather; it is not too hot outside, but there is just enough sunshine and a little breeze for it to be perfectly pleasant outside. I also love this season, the start of autumn, because there are new hot chocolate varieties in the shops as it is the official start of cocoa season. I mean, I drink it all year, but it is nice that I can find new flavours now.

Nothing says autumn more than this new drink from Hotel Chocolat, Pumpkin Spice Drinking Chocolate. I love all the autumnal spices too, so I am totally on board with this. It is a milk chocolate-based drink, and I eagerly opened the sachet and made a mug. Marshmallows were on standby.

The drink had a lovely spiced aroma, and the taste was pure, warming, soothing spicy chocolate goodness. These are some of my favourite flavours, so I know that I am a little biassed, but it was just such a nice mix. I could pick up on cinnamon and nutmeg, and they were just set off by the creamy but rich chocolate. I loved this stuff and happily welcome all the autumn spices my way.

Apple Pie Drinking Chocolate (Hotel Chocolat) by @Cinabar

Don’t ruin this by telling me it is too hot for hot chocolate. Or that it is too early for autumn flavours. We have had a cool summer, and the minute my new hot chocolate boxes arrive, the sun kicks in. That is poor timing, but I’m still all for this Apple Pie Drinking Chocolate from Hotel Chocolat.

 

This drink is made with Hot Chocolat’s caramel chocolate and has the flavours of apples and spices mixed in. It is designed to be made using their Velvetiser (cocoa maker), but it can be made in a pan with hot milk and a bit of whisking. Inside the sachet are golden flakes of chocolate and a lovely spiced aroma. I poured it into the hot milk and waited for the machine to do its thing. Once it was ready, the drink was pale chocolate in colour, and it smelled wonderful. I gave it a sip, and the taste was absolutely gorgeous; there was a lovely sweetness of apple, layers of milk chocolate and caramel, and plenty of autumnal spice. It was utterly delicious, one of the nicest drinks that Hotel Chocolat has brought out (and I have tried many). Sweet, well spiced, and fruity, a pure delight. Admittedly, this Apple Pie Drinking Chocolate is a soothing drink meant for cooler weather, but I think when it does get cold, I’ll just buy another box.

Coconut White Drinking Chocolate (Hotel Chocolat) By @Cinabar

I have a hot chocolate addiction, so it will come as no surprise that I picked up another new flavour of hot chocolate from Hotel Chocolat, this Coconut White Drinking Chocolate. I have previously tried both the White Hot Chocolate from Hotel Chocolat and the Peppermint White, both of which had white chocolate flakes in their sachets.

I opened up this to make the drink and discovered that the flakes of this drink are a much darker colour, they are a rich darker caramel tone. The drink was heated and stirred in the Velvetiser and again the finished product looked darker than the other white chocolates I had tried before.

I gave it a taste, and this drink is sweeter too. Many of the Hotel Chocolat drinks are quite a mature flavour and aren’t that sweet, but this one is. There was a lovely hit of rich caramel and then the smooth creamy flavour of coconut running through it, all built on the white chocolate base. Oh my word, what a drink. This is pure sweet indulgence and my absolute favourite so far of the ones I’ve tried. Hotel Chocolat properly nailed it. This truly is a hot chocolate made for summer.

Salted Caramel & Butterscotch Milkshake (Hotel Chocolat) By @SpectreUK

If you were expecting to read about a drink, you will be mistaken. These six Salted Caramel & Butterscotch Milkshake chocolates were from Hotel Chocolat. I had these as a stocking filler, so to speak, with a few other chocolatey items for my birthday. The packet stated that these chocolates are "The essence of a milkshake, reinvented in chocolate." They contain whipping cream, salted caramel chocolate, and butterscotch. All of which sounds pretty ideal for my pudding tonight. They could be the perfect treat after a day of feeling under the weather and feeling a little sorry for myself.

There was a strong smell of salted caramel and milk chocolate on opening the packet. Filled with gooey runny butterscotch and cream, and coated in a salted caramel milk chocolate, these salty chocolate balls burst with flavour as soon as I put one in my mouth. Explosive butterscotch flavour with a little cream to begin with, then the salted caramel milk chocolate melted in my mouth. Gosh these were good. I'm not sure about them being reminiscent of a milkshake, but I washed them down with my favourite white hot chocolate drink. Gorgeous :-p

Information on the packet; Each 2 x Salted Caramel & Butterscotch Milkshake chocolates were 114 calories, with 7.8g of fat, 7.6g of sugar, and 0.08g of salt. Please see photograph for the ingredients.

Peppermint White Drinking Chocolate (Hotel Chocolat) By @Cinabar

Even I have to admit that there were a couple of days this week where hot chocolate wasn’t very appealing. It has been exceptionally hot and on Monday and Tuesday and even the new summer flavour Peppermint White Drinking Chocolate from Hotel Chocolat wasn’t doing it for me.

Today, though, had been a more normal temperature for Britain, and there was even some rain thrown in, so today was the day to try the new drink. Inside the box are sachets and they are designed to be used with the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser, but can be used on the hob with hot milk and a bit of whisking. As a hot chocolate addict, I have the machine, I added some milk and the powder and waited for the drink to heat and mix up.

The drink is very creamy and the white chocolate base is ever so nice with the peppermint tones running through it. There is plenty of mint but it isn’t overly sweet, just creamy and fresh. There aren’t many flavoured white hot chocolates in the Hotel Chocolat range so this one makes a nice change. The mint is cooling and I love mint and chocolate flavours, so I was enjoying it. I actually liked it more than the milk chocolate and mint that they do. It is soothing, but still feels refreshing, perfect for the warmer evenings.

Maple and Pecan Drinking Chocolate (Hotel Chocolat) By @Cinabar

The folks at Hotel Chocolat do keep on bringing out new and interesting hot chocolates and it does keep me on my toes. My favourite things are hot chocolates and new products, so I am always looking at their website. The flavours available at Hotel Chocolat just keep me going back, I always have a couple of boxes in the cupboard. Tonight we are trying this new Hotel Chocolat Maple and Pecan Drinking Chocolate. The drinks from Hotel Chocolat can be made using hot milk and a pan, but I’m lucky enough to own a Velvetiser so I put a sachet in the sachet along with some milk and let it do its thing.

This new drinking chocolate is a little sweeter than some of the Hotel Chocolat hot chocolates, which often have a very grown up feel to them. The taste from the nuts with the sweeter chocolate is divine. The maple and pecan shone through, and these softer flavour of nuts work so very well with the chocolate, I honestly thought the peanut butter hot chocolate would be impossible to beat as a favourite but this new combo is a must for those that love chocolate and nuts. I hope this Hotel Chocolat Maple and Pecan Drinking Chocolate isn’t a limited edition as I need more!

Mayan Chilli and Cinnamon Hot Chocolate (Hotel Chocolat) By @Cinabar

Today is Blue Monday, famous for being the most miserable day of the year. It gets its name for being long enough after Christmas pay day that everyone feels broke but realises there is still a couple fo weeks till the next pay day. Christmas is over, and the decorations are down. It is January, it is cold, and let us not forget it is a Monday! So what kind of pick me up is best for Blue Monday, well I thought I’d try a nice warming mug of Mayan Chilli and Cinnamon Hot Chocolate.This new flavour of hot chocolate is from the Hotel Chocolat range designed for their Velvetiser (but can be made with hot milk in a pan).

I opened a sachet, added it to the milk and waited for the machine to do its thing. I poured the Mayan Chilli and Cinnamon Hot Chocolate into a mug and added whipped cream, this is proper comfort food. I had my first sip and I thought this was super spicy, I hadn’t been sure what to expect. After the initial burst of heat I seemed to get used to the chilli in the drink and could really enjoy the flavour. There is quite a bit of heat but the spicy cinnamon made it a winner for me. I love cinnamon and this drink on a cold night is the perfect winter warmer. PJs on, mug of hot choc and Netflix, that is how you beat Blue Monday.

Mince Pie Hot Chocolate (Hotel Chocolat) By @cinabar

Firstly a big yay to hot chocolate season and all the new varieties that it brings with it, although as I have previously mentioned I drink hot chocolate all year. This new flavour from Hotel Chocolat is getting a little Christmassy but I couldn’t resist picking up a bag and giving it a try; introducing Mince Pie Hot Chocolate. I love mince pies and couldn’t wait to get started.

I opened up the bag and oh my word the aroma was next level, it was so strong and spiced and chocolatey it was amazing. The scent was warming and smelled like Christmas. I added 6 teaspoons of the chocolate flakes to milk and heated it up. Again it smelled lovely while it was being heated. I took a sip and somehow realised that Hotel Chocolat had put all the flavours of Christmas into a drink and I couldn’t stop myself smiling. There was plenty of cinnamon and nutmeg, but also a fruitiness and touch of brandy flavour. Wow, this is like the poshest mince pie flavour mixed with chocolate. It is genius, I loved every sip of it. This Hotel Chocolat Mince Pie Hot Chocolate does what it says on the bag in the most amazing way, they nailed it and I want more!

Black Forest Gateau Drinking Chocolate (Hotel Chocolat) By @Cinabar

I was lucky enough to get a Hotel Chocolat Velvitiser for my birthday back in January and I have been having regular hot chocolate from it ever since, whatever the weather. Most of the flavours are superb, with the mint and white being strong favourites. I adore the peanut butter too and always have sachets of that variety in the cupboard too.

I went to restock my supplies and spotted a new flavour based on one of my favourite retro cakes, so I bought myself a box of these Hotel Chocolat Black Forest Gateau Drinking Chocolate Sachets. I added a sachet to milk in the Velvitiser and let the machine do its thing. The hot chocolate smelt lovely, sweet and chocolatey.

I poured the drink into a mug and was disappointed I didn’t have whipped cream and cherry sauce for the full at home barista experience. I gave the drink a try and it didn’t disappoint. The flavour was a lovely mix of cherry and chocolate with a creaminess too that I couldn’t quite work out where it had come from. The fruit flavour was balanced well, the cherry taste was a little tart but the sweetness and smoothness of the chocolate married well with it. This was such a soothing drinking and it was like liquidised Black Forest Gateau. So yes Britain is having a mini heat wave but don’t for a minute think that is stopping me drinking a mug of t Black Forest Gateau Drinking Chocolate sachets.

Peanut butter Hot Chocolate (Hotel Chocolat) By @Cinabar

It is roasting outside, the sun is shining and summer has officially started. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again hot chocolate is an all year round drink for me. So despite the heat I was browsing the Hotel Chocolat website looking to stock up on hot chocolate for an evening treat. I was quite excited to see a new flavour I hadn’t seen before, so I added a box of this peanut butter hot chocolate sachets to my basket. 

You can make this drink with a pan of milk and a bit of whisking but I actually have their Velvetiser machine for making hot chocolate because frankly I’m obsessed, and I was treated for my birthday. I added a sachet to the milk in the Velvetiser and let the machine do its thing. 

The drink had a lovely nutty aroma. I gave it a try and was transported to peanut butter heaven. The flavour has a rich dark chocolate flavour but there is no mistaking the peanut goodness, slightly salty nutty heaven. The drink is apparently just their hot chocolate blended with actual peanut butter so i can see why it works so well. Keeping it simple. I loved every sip. The sun maybe shining but I’m still hooked on my hot chocolate. Disclaimer there is a recipe on the box on how to make it into a milkshake too if that’s more your bag but for me it’s a hot drink I’m after. 

Almond & Cinnamon Hot Chocolate (Hotel Chocolat) By @Cinabar

I love Hotel Chocolat hot chocolate, since getting my Velvertiser (hot chocolate maker) for my birthday (thanks bro) I regularly order two boxes per month, and I have been mixing up the flavours. I love the mint and the orange and the white, even the chilli wasn’t too hot. For this order I spotted a new variety and thought I’d try it out Almond & Cinnamon Hot Chocolate.

Now I did think twice about this because I have an issue with one of the ingredients, not the cinnamon obviously everyone knows cinnamon is my favourite spice. I don’t understand almonds. I like the nuts, I like them toasted I like them in chocolate I even like them sugar coated but I don’t like strong marzipan. Marzipan is just almonds and sugar, I like the ingredients, none of it makes any sense. Somehow when some marzipan is made something happens to almonds that takes away all the nutty goodness in the flavour and leaves a Play-Doh scent flavour. I cautiously opened the bag of Almond & Cinnamon Hot Chocolate and was hit by that overwhelmingly sweet marzipan aroma, oh my, I almost didn’t make the drink. The drink is bad, it is so very sweet (most Hotel Chocolat hot chocolates aren’t they are well balanced) but this was sharp, sweet, marzipan like and almost artificial. The chocolate tones tried to smooth over the problems but couldn’t manage it, even the cinnamon was just a background flavour, such a shame. I guess even Hotel Chocolat’s are allowed one variety I don’t like. If you like marzipan and have tried this Almond & Cinnamon Hot Chocolate let me know what you think.