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Hot chocolate reviews

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Last updated: 23 December 2022
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Checked for accuracy by our qualified fact-checkers, verifiers and subject experts. Find out more about fact-checking at CHOICE.

We blind taste test and compare 19 supermarket hot chocolate products, from brands including Avalanche, Cadbury, Jarrah and Lindt to find the best.

  • Discover the top-rated hot chocolates by CHOICE taste testers.
  • Sort by price, percentage of cocoa, brand and more.
  • Find out what makes the best hot chocolate with tips on gluten-free options and a DIY recipe.
  • Get your free guide to all our taste test winners.
 

We've also partnered with Shop Ethical on this review to show the ratings the Ethical Consumer Group gives to each company (not product).

How we test
Products

We tested 19 hot chocolate products that can be prepared by adding warm/hot milk or water (as per pack instructions) and are available in major supermarket chains. We did not test white chocolate or flavoured (e.g. mint, coconut) varieties. We included Nestle Milo (but not its other malted/fortified brand equivalents Aktavite, Aldi NRG, Ovaltine or Sustagen) for comparison purposes. 

Price per 100g is based on the pack size specified (not on special) in April 2021.

Tasting

We recruited 114 Voice Your Choice members who regularly drink hot chocolate to participate in this blind taste test. Each participant was randomly assigned seven hot chocolate samples that had been de-identified. They were instructed to prepare each sample according to the pack instructions provided and complete a short taste test survey. Each product was tasted by at least 37 testers. 

Scores

Participants were asked to give an overall taste rating for each hot chocolate sample on a seven-point scale ranging from ‘excellent’ to ‘terrible’. We also asked them to rate the intensity of the hot chocolate flavour, and to select from a range of 10 descriptors those that best describe the hot chocolate. The CHOICE score is based on the overall taste rating, converted to a percentage score.

We recommend hot chocolate with a CHOICE score of 70% or more.

Matthew Steen
By Rachel Clemons
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Brand

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List of brands we tested in this review.

    Price

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    Pack price in Sydney supermarkets and grocery chains (not on special).

    enter value/s in increments of 1 between 2.99 and 10

    Recommended products

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    Member only

    This test score is for members only. Join now to unlock our expert results.

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    Percentage of cocoa

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    As per the ingredients list on the pack.

    enter value/s in increments of i between 10 and 45

    Price per 100g

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    Price per 100 grams for the product only, based on the price paid for specified pack sizes in Sydney supermarkets and grocery chains (not on special).

    enter value/s in increments of i between 0.75 and 5

    Energy per 100g (kJ)

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    Product only, as per the nutrition information panel on the pack purchased.

    enter value/s in increments of i between 267 and 2420

    Sugars per 100g (g)

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    Product only, as per the nutrition information panel on the pack purchased.

    enter value/s in increments of i between 0 and 81

    Shop Ethical rating

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    Shop Ethical rates the environmental and social impact of the company (not the product) using independent sources. This rating is not included in our total score. N/A means there is no rating for that company.

      Included in this review

      Members-only access
      • Sweetener
      • Allergen declaration
      • Recommended
      • CHOICE score
      • Shop Ethical rating
      • Pack size (g)
      • Price
      • Price per serving prepared
      • Price per 100g
      • Energy per 100g (kJ)
      • Protein per 100g (g)
      • Fat per 100g (g)
      • Saturated fat per 100g (g)
      • Sugars per 100g (g)
      • Sodium per 100g (mg)
      • Percentage of cocoa
      • Ingredients
      • Percentage of Australian ingredients
      • Country of origin
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