Chocolate Lovers: Gourmet Hot Chocolate for Grown-Ups

As the fall days get shorter and the chill of winter afternoons slowly creep up, don’t get caught without the comfort of a delicious mug of hot chocolate. Hot chocolate soothes the soul and wipes out those chocolate cravings. Why is chocolate so loved? It provides us with the endorphin-enabled happy feelings we associate with a good mood and comfort.

Many of us grew up with easy to prepare packets of instant hot chocolate such as Swiss Miss and Nestle Hot Cocoa. If you were able to add some hot water to a mug with a package of mix and simply stir, you could enjoy some hot chocolate in a few minutes. Who could ever forget those “mini marshmallows? Those hot chocolate moments were fun as children.

While instant Swiss Miss and Nestle are tasty and convenient, they don’t quite give the satisfaction that you can get from old-fashion prepared hot chocolate. Therefore, if you are all grown up now like me, then it is likely your desire for a more grown-up version of hot chocolate has increased as well.

Move over Swiss Miss and Nestle. Gourmet hot chocolate brands are here to satisfy the needs of grown-up chocolate lovers everywhere. No worries, you will not need to have a personal assistant to visit the local coffee shop to get your hot chocolate fix. Neither will you have to find the time and courage to brave those fall and winter winds trying to get to some fancy café.

Here are some great tips to make your own delicious gourmet hot chocolate at home. Gourmet hot chocolate brands that should be on the top of your list include: Lake Champlain, Dagoba, Vosges, and Godiva. All of these brands offer some great flavor combinations in unique and enticing combinations. Try varieties with cinnamon and spices, herbs, or completely dark chocolate flavors to really zone in on that chocolate craving.

My personal favorite is Lake Champlain Chocolates, Mocha Hot Chocolate. It has the deep rich  smooth  chocolate taste that I love. Lake Champlain even offers organic versions. Most every brand offers various sampler packs. Experiment a bit to find flavors to fall in love with.

The next few months will be cold - warm up with a cup of warm decadent hot chocolate:

• Purchase a hot chocolate maker such as the Back to Basics Stainless Coco Latte Hot Drink Maker. It will bring the cafe experience to your home. Automatically heat, whip, and mix cocoa, coffee and tea into frothy, cafe-style drinks. The auto shut-off ensures that drinks won t be overheated. The 32-ounce container, with a twist and lock lid and non-stick heating element, is safe and easy to clean. Thirty-five delicious hot drink recipes included.
• Make hot chocolate with milk (whole, skim, rice or soy) instead of water.

Enjoy!

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