"Drinking Chocolates" are made from real chocolate as opposed to "Hot Cocoa" which is made from cocoa powder (the powdery remains of chocolate liquor after cocoa butter is removed). When you purchase a package of drinking chocolate it will often be in the form of chocolate shavings or chunks.
Drinking chocolates are not instant like hot cocoa. You must add hot milk, cream, or water to the chocolate in order for it to melt and be whisked together. Because of the higher cocoa butter content, drinking chocolates will also be richer and often thicker than hot cocoa.
Here is a list of my favorites.
1. L.A. Burdick Dark Hot Chocolate
Simply the best! Larry Burdick is one of the best chocolate makers in America. His drinking chocolate is just as exceptional as his candies. Three varieties are available: Dark, White, and Milk. The Dark Hot Chocolate is my favorite. It has a very luscious and complex flavor typical of the finest chocolates. Fruity and acidic with an intense chocolate flavor, this drinking chocolate is simply wonderful; a real treat for chocolate lovers.
2. Vosges La Parisienne Couture Cocoa
Vosges is another wonderful chocolate maker that has created some delicious drinking chocolates. Vosges likes to add exotic flavors to their chocolates and this is true of the drinking chocolates, too. Varieties include La Parisienne Couture Cocoa, Aztec Elixir Couture Cocoa, and Bianca Couture Cocoa. La Parisienne is my favorite with bits of real vanilla bean in the mix!
The Aztec Elixir contains chilies, Mexican vanilla beans, and cinnamon. Bianca contains lemon myrtle, lavender, vanilla, and white chocolate.
Also available from Zingermans and Nieman Marcus.
3. MarieBelle Aztec Original Hot Chocolate
Maribel Lieberman, a native of Honduras, uses single origin Columbian cocoa (not powder) in all of her drinking chocolates: Original (or Aztec) (63% cacao), Dark (72% cacao), Cafe Negro (flavored with coffee), and Spice (flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg and chipotle).The Original version is the best for a great classic drinking chocolate. Rich chocolateness with complex flavors. Read the label carefully as all the varieties are labeled Aztec Hot Chocolate.
4. Schokinag Extreme Dark European Drinking Chocolate
Schokinag (pronounced show-ca-nog) is a German chocolate company with 9 varieties of European Drinking Chocolates.5. La Maison du Chocolat La Tasse de Chocolat:
La Maison du Chocolat is an amazing French chocolate maker with a branch in New York. Their drinking chocolate is unlike any other I have seen in that it comes in the form of tiny chocolate pearls composed of four layers of chocolate (all of different origins and strengths), all contained in a little plastic tube. Very beautiful chocolate taste. Not at all sweet, you may wish to add a little sugar.6. Lake Champlain Old World Hot Chocolate
Lake Champlain Chocolates is one of my favorite chocolatiers. Wonderful chocolates using the finest ingredients without all the snobbery. Lake Champlain has 6 different hot chocolates with their Old World Hot Chocolate being my favorite. At 54% cacao, this is still pretty mild for a dark chocolate. Rich and smooth, even drinkers who prefer milk chocolate will love this version.7. Les Confitures a L'Ancienne en Poudre
Through the magic of the internet, this French Drinking Chocolate is available to American consumers. A really wonderful and complex drinking chocolate with some smokiness caused by the roasting of the cocoa beans. Also contains raw cane sugar and vanilla.Available from Cybercucina.com.
