13 best hot chocolates: Milk, dark and white varieties for an indulgent treat

Last year, we named Modern Standard our top hot chocolate, and it’s still as good as ever. We’re obsessed with its not-too-sweet flavour, which gives archetypal hot chocolate energy but with an edge of sophistication – think hints of hazelnut and a dark undertone from 52 per cent Fino de Aroma cacao. But taste is only part of the reason this powdered hot chocolate is a consistent winner.

A lot of the world’s cocoa comes with hazy ethics attached, but Modern Standard is doing its bit to improve the industry. The company is direct trade – sourcing from family-run farms in Colombia – and supports social impact projects. In fact, a full 10p from every purchase is donated to good causes. What’s more, Modern Standard is signed up to 1 per cent for the Planet (meaning it donates at least 1 per cent of its annual revenue to environmental causes), and the packaging is recyclable.

Oh, and it’s dairy-free too, so suitable for vegans. All this for a bargain £6 for 200g. Seriously, what’s not to love?

Many of the UK’s discerning restaurants and cafes (including London-based The Gentleman Baristas) serve up Islands behind the scenes. And it’s little wonder why: this is absolutely fantastic hot chocolate. Sourced from the brand’s own cocoa farms in St Vincent and the Grenadines, the 70 per cent hot chocolate buttons are fully traceable, as well as full of premium flavour.

What do we mean by premium? It’s got proper high-brow cocoa character, with bright-red, fruity undertones and a lick of acidity to balance the more ‘chocolatey’ elements of its profile.

This is a cocoa that’s been sourced, processed and packaged right to make it shine. Our only complaint is that we can’t stop eating the amazingly delicious buttons direct from the bag, leaving fewer left for brewing in our mug.

You’ve heard of Cadbury, right? Well, this is the next generation – literally. Love Cocoa was founded by James Cadbury, whose great-great-great grandfather, John, put his name to one of the world’s most famous confectionery brands. James is out to do good things in the chocolate industry, supporting sustainability (he plants one tree for each product sold) and sourcing his chocolate ethically.

The whole range is tasty, but we especially took to this salted caramel version. Unlike some others we tried, it’s not at all sickly – instead, it boasts a subtle salty caramel flavour, with a tiny burnt honeycomb bite on the finish. Delish!

Last year, we named Knoops as our favourite white hot chocolate, and, just for the record, we remain obsessed with that creamy, silky, vanilla-scented brew. But after tasting through the range again, we think we’ve settled on a new favourite – the 72 per cent extra dark single origin from Peru.

We love that it has the deep, rich intensity you expect from a dark hot chocolate, as well as a little hint of bitterness, but it still remains gorgeously fruity. It’s bursting with notes of ripe banana and nutty cashew, a combination that makes it both sophisticated and approachable in equal parts.

Even if you’re not sure whether dark hot chocolate is your thing, we’re willing to bet you’ll like this.

To the unbelievers out there, milk hot chocolate seems like something of a kiddie drink – it can be overly sweet, overly milky and just a bit boring. But this artisan version by Dorset cocoa pro Chococo is anything but.

Boasting a higher cocoa content (45 per cent) than usual for a milk chocolate option, and blending Crillo and Trinitario beans from the Sur del Lago region of Venezuela, it’s a milk hot chocolate with real character. Mix it up with a high-quality semi-skimmed milk, and you’ll notice its silky caramel profile, backed up with a luscious texture. Connoisseurs and kiddies alike will approve.

When you want the intense punch of high cocoa content but the creaminess of milk chocolate, who you gonna call? Cocoa Canopy, that’s who! The brand has concocted this 47 per cent cocoa, the perfect hybrid between the two hot chocolate styles. It trots the decadent line between grown-up and comforting with finesse.

We’re fans of the big, chunky beads too – just try to resist munching them from the box while the kettle boils. They can be used in baking or other recipes as well – Cocoa Canopy even suggests cocktails – which is certainly a win if you are looking for a chocolate with a lot of versatility.

What’s more, the packing is plastic-free and the company is partnered with Cocoa Horizons, an organisation that aims to improve the livelihoods of communities involved in the chocolate industry.

Made by London bakery Cutter & Squidge, this hot chocolate reminds us of the decadent cream-topped ones you get in upmarket cafes. Made with 65 per cent cocoa, sourced from the Caribbean and sweetened to perfection, it’s just the pick if you are looking for a hot chocolate with a more classical spirit, though made with contemporary thought for quality. The pretty tin – which is reusable, whether for more cocoa powder or something else in your kitchen – makes it a nice one for gifting, too.

Whether you’re vegan, dairy intolerant or just someone who appreciates the flavour profile of an oat milk hot chocolate, you’re sure to love this take from Choc Affair. Made in Yorkshire from sustainably grown chocolate and bundled up in fully recyclable packaging, it is gorgeously chocolatey. We mean it – there’s no compromise at all on flavour, even without the richness of dairy in your mug to back it up.

Brew it with oat milk if you love a rich, almost nutty oat taste, or try almond or soya milk instead for a more neutral profile.

While it still flies relatively under the radar in the hot chocolate world, ruby chocolate – which is made from naturally pink-hued cocoa beans – is a deliciously fruity option. With its distinct, almost tart raspberry flavour and white-chocolate-style creaminess, it’s just the brew for anyone who’s on the fence about cocoa.

This ruby option from the UK’s oldest coffee roaster, Farrer’s, is textbook for the category. Spun in our velvetiser with milk, it turned out a creamy, frothy and gorgeously blush-hued drink that was decadently sweet but also had a hit of fruity freshness. Try it if you’re a fan of white hot chocolate but up for something new.

When it comes time to find a gift for the chocolate-lover in your life, you could do far worse than this series of three ready-to-go hot chocolate stir sticks. Especially if your recipient also likes booze because – hello! – they’re infused with the knee-weakening flavours of amaretto, cherry brandy and spiced rum.

Preparing the hot chocolate is easy: all you need to do is start with a mugful of hot milk or water, and stir through the chocolate block until it melts. Stirring in a shot of your own actual amaretto, cherry brandy or spiced rum is optional.

There’s just something theatrical about a chocolate bombe – pop it in your favourite mug, pour hot milk over the top and watch the magic unfold as it melts away. This one ticks boxes both on the visual front and for flavour. It’s got some sweetness, so kids will love it, and it’s dairy-free, so ideal for vegans.

Our favourite bit, though, is the interior. As the chocolate orb melted smoothly and effortlessly away into the liquid, it revealed a handful of scrummy mini marshmallows. These were pleasingly robust, holding up well against the heat, so we could nibble them over the entire drinking experience, rather than lose them immediately to the melt (an all-too-frequent complaint with other hot chocolates). Clever indeed.

As we’ve already mentioned, we’re big fans of Knoops’s white hot chocolate. But Asda’s one is a slightly different prospect – a wallet-friendly blonde style that combines the milky, vanilla gorgeousness of white chocolate with a subtle hint of caramel. It’s sweet, it’s smooth and it’s very easy to drink – kids, especially, will love it.

Meanwhile, you’ll probably love the £2.75 price point. Affordable enough for everyday drinking.

If, for you, the ultimate cocoa treat is a Terry’s chocolate orange, look no further than this rich, silky, citrus-infused number from fifth-generation family brand Cartwright & Butler.

It has just the right dose of choc-orange nostalgia, balanced with a grown-up and decadent dark-chocolate profile that keeps it from tasting sickly.

The brand also makes pumpkin-flavoured and rum and caramel hot chocolates – spicing up your hot drinks every day of the week.