The verdict

Top chocs

The three top ranking products

Three chocolates led the overall rankings and were top-rated for taste and strength.

Vittoria Original Chocochino and Vittoria Dark Chocochino were among the more reasonably priced products at 36 or 38 cents per serving. Triallists found the Original Chocochino “smooth and creamy” . The Dark Chocochino had a “satisfying real chocolatey taste”.

At around 50 cents per mug Trade Aid Organic Drinking Chocolate was the second most expensive. As a fair trade product it supports cocoa and sugar co-operative farmers in developing countries by paying higher prices for their produce. “A rich and satisfying chocolate drink” commented a member.

Sweetness

Most of these drinking chocolates contain lots of sugar. One in five of those who tried Cadbury Drinking Chocolate or Vittoria Original Chocochino commented on their sweetness.

But perceptions didn’t always match the actual content. Trade Aid Organic Drinking Chocolate, which had the highest sugar content per serving, attracted comments from only three people. Products with the lowest sugar content, WeightWatchers and the two Jarrah products, contained artificial sweetener.

Strength

Vittoria Dark Chocochino had the strongest chocolate flavour, followed by Vittoria Original Chocochino, Trade Aid Organic Drinking Chocolate, Green & Black’s Organic Hot Chocolate Drink and Cadbury Drinking Chocolate.

Three or more heaped teaspoons of chocolate were recommended for a serving, with the exception of Trade Aid Organic which specified two to three heaped teaspoons. The two weakest drinks, WeightWatchers Drinking Chocolate and Home Brand Drinking Chocolate, recommended two teaspoons.

Some home testers found adding chocolate powder made the drink sweeter without increasing the flavour.