Not All Christmas Cocoa Is Created Equal
The Best Christmas Cocoa in the World
Okay, you might say I'm obsessed (and I probably am) but I have to stand firm in my convictions that the holiday season isn't right without the perfect cup of Christmas cocoa. If you're the type who throws a cup of water in the microwave and dumps a pack of store-brand powder into it and thinks you've got hot cocoa, I would stand in your kitchen shocked and appalled. That is not cocoa. Not even close. This, my friends, is how you get a good cup of Christmas cocoa.
M'am, Let Go Of The Faucet And Put Your Hands Up!
Please, please, PLEASE tell me that you are not the person who microwaves hot water to prepare hot cocoa. For those of us who are true cocoa lovers, we laugh at the thought. But believe me, there are some who run the tap water to prepare a Christmas cocoa treat.
No matter what brand of hot cocoa you buy, make sure that you use real milk to make your cocoa. I personally prefer 2-percent milk from Oberweis for my hot cocoa. Heat it on the stove top (not the microwave) and add a quality cocoa mix and you're in for a special Christmas cocoa delight.
The Godiva Experience
Think Godiva's truffles are to die for? Their hot cocoa is just as good. Godiva makes a killer hot cocoa mix in both dark and milk chocolate varieties. You've never had real hot cocoa until you've tried Godiva. Just be ready to pay the price. For a 12-serving canister you're going to have to fork over $10.
L.A. Burdick Hot Chocolate
Okay, it's technically not a powdered mix. L.A. Burdick hot cocoa is actually shaved chocolate. But let me tell you something -- you've never tasted anything like it! Just let me warn you -- you must like your Christmas cocoa to be very rich if you're going to like Burdick's. It's like be enveloped in a chocolate dream.
The price, however, might wake you up from that dream. For a 12-ounce bag (a bit less than the 13.1 ounces you get from Godiva) you'll need to pay $14.
Ghirardelli
It's another chocolate master to the rescue of those suffering from sub-par Christmas cocoa. I'm starting to notice a trend here...
Like Godiva and L.A. Burdick (well, maybe not just like them but it's close) Ghirardelli makes fabulous hot cocoa. It seems their mastery of candy has carried over to this comforting beverage. If the $10 price for 12 servings that Godiva charges seems a bit much, you get 15 servings for the same price with Ghiradelli.
So splurge a little my friends! Go grab some of these Christmas cocoa delights for yourself. It's sure to make your holiday warmer.
Comments
Hi
I'm enjoying looking through your blog and your descriptions of Christmas cocoa are making me want to go and mix up a mug now! In the UK we have 'drinking chocolate' made from a powder mix that includes sugar or 'cocoa', made from plain cocoa powder and milk with sugar added to taste. My own favourite recipe for Christmas cocoa (or any time of year, to be honest!) is:
- heat a mugful of milk in a saucepan
- mix 2tsp cocoa powder and 1tsp sugar with a little cold milk to make a paste.
- add hot milk to paste, stirring until smooth
- add a dash of Cointreau or other orange liqueur
One of my favourite Christmas stories is of the children who meet Santa Claus / Father Christmas in Enid Blyton's 'Christmas Book' - and they make him a mug of cocoa!
Posted by: Sandy Vaughan | December 1, 2007 5:33 AM