Hot chocolate is one of those ideal beverages drank either at night or before starting your day. It is a great option, especially for non-coffee drinkers who want an energy boost. It is also a drink that will be a sure hit for both kids and adults!
Whether you like it rich and smooth or sweet with lots of toppings, there are tons of options out there to choose from. With that being said, this article will recommend 10 of the best hot chocolates to date. There is also a buying guide fact-checked by registered nutritionist-dietitian Samantha Morales to help you make the best choice.
Samantha began her career in clinical nutrition and weight management at a tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines. Her practice allowed her to give nutrition counseling and plan modified diets for patients with medical conditions. Presently, she does private practice to focus on true holistic wellness - an approach that believes in aligning one's mind, body, and spiritual well-being.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
Experts featured in this article only reviewed the content of our buying guide. They had no part in the selection or ranking of products or services listed.
The products and services listed are ranked independently by the editorial team based on the points mentioned in our thoroughly researched buying guide (as of 01-16-2023).
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
Generally, hot chocolate comes in two flavors: sweetened or unsweetened. Whether you're someone who likes a sweet drink or one who wants to customize the sweetness of your beverage, let's tackle each type one by one.
Unsweetened chocolate is the simplest form of hot chocolate—it is made from pure cocoa with no added ingredients. Albeit being on the bitter side, this is a great choice when you want to make your own hot chocolate.
With this, you can balance out how much sugar, milk, and flavorings you'd like to add to your beverage. Aside from hot chocolate, the unsweetened variant is ideal for baking brownies, cakes, and other pastries.
As the name suggests, this type already has sugar in the mix. Whether it’s the instant, pre-made kind or one that's offered in coffee shops, sweetened hot chocolate appeals mostly to the young and young at heart.
Although you cannot control the amount of sugar that's in the hot chocolate, you'll get pure deliciousness when you purchase the sweetened version. Also, this type is more convenient since you don't need to add any sweetener to your drink.
Hot chocolate can be served in different forms, and perhaps you prefer one over the other. Though it’s all about preference, let’s discuss each kind below. Who knows, you might find your new favorite!
Ready-to-drink hot chocolate is best for the busy bees or people who are always on the go, as it is already prepared beforehand. It is sold in your favorite coffee shop or café, whether you prefer to go to the store or have it delivered to your home or office.
Usually, you can customize and make certain requests to make your hot chocolate more suitable to your taste. You can opt to add low-fat or plant-based milk, make it warm so it doesn't burn your tongue, and more. In other words, you're freer to make a beverage in your own style with store-bought hot chocolate.
Want to make café-inspired beverages at home? Luckily, you can still whip up a good cup of hot chocolate in your kitchen. With powdered hot chocolate, you have a lot of options to choose from, which can still give you the warm feeling that you get from store-bought variants.
They often come in packets of 8, 10, and even 50 per box, depending on the manufacturer. Jars of powdered hot chocolate are also available for larger servings, which is great for big families. This instant powdered beverage takes less than 5 minutes to mix and serve.
If you loved champorado growing up, the classic cup of tsokolate will definitely be up your alley. It’s made of tablea de cacao, which are fermented and roasted cacao beans shaped into tablets or round disks. With a bit of sugar and milk, they’re mixed together using a batidor, a wooden version of a whisk. This gives them a strong flavor that we all grew to love!
Tablea de cacao can be sweetened or unsweetened, although the latter is often difficult to find. They are also full of antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties, making them a healthier option for chocolate lovers who are monitoring their food intake. For a Pinoy take on the classic hot chocolate, go for tableas!
Pods were initially made to imitate the high-quality drinks made from espresso machines, so they can be enjoyed at home or in the office. They are a quick and easy way to get your hot chocolate fix—you just have to press a few buttons to get instant, café-style hot choco. This type is ideal for one serving, and you can add milk or toppings to your liking.
Usually made with sugar, cocoa powder, and milk, hot chocolate is already tasty by itself. But adding another blend makes it even more flavorful. It's a way to experiment with different tastes and see how far your palette can go. Must-try seasonal flavors include hazelnut, mint chocolate, pumpkin spice, and more.
When we think about toppings for hot chocolate, our minds automatically drift to these squishy white toppings that add more texture to our drink. The mallows soften and melt in your mouth as you take a sip of your hot beverage. And did you know they come in different sizes? Whether you’re a kid or an adult, you can never go wrong with this yummy addition!
Any chocolate-related product would usually have a list of any possible allergens on the label. This is so anyone who's prone to allergy attacks would get a warning and avoid consuming the food item. If the product doesn’t have a section for the allergens, it’s best to ask the seller about it. Examples of common allergens include milk, nuts, eggs, and soy.
Ever had the fantasy of traveling to Europe? La Creperie can help you out with that! They may be known for their authentic French delicacies, such as crêpes and galettes, but their beverages are also worth trying. Their hot chocolate is a fan favorite, constantly raved about by blogs, magazines, and the general public.
The beverage is a filling, Parisian-style hot chocolate, which comes with dark chocolate bits and a serving of whipped cream on the side. Pro-tip: scoop some of that cream, top it on your hot choco, add some chocolate bits, mix away, and voila—you got yourself a delicious, European-inspired hot drink!
Though you’ll be wishing to be on the beautiful streets of Paris, at least you got your drink covering it up for you! To order, contact the branch nearest you or check out via GrabFood.
Dubbed as a tita-approved place, Mary Grace is the go-to café to get your pastries and drinks. Maybe it’s because of the classy ambiance in each store or the wide range of desserts and treats available for you to indulge in. Either way, you might want to give their hot chocolates a try!
One of their highly praised drinks is the premium Mary Grace Hot Chocolate, which is made from Belgian Chocolate. Even at home, you’ll get that classy café feel, and you can add whipped cream too!
But don’t be antsy yet! Unlike other cafes, Mary Grace has a lot more varieties of hot chocolate that are equally delicious. Also, a word of advice: trying this with their pastries—especially their ensaymada—is an absolute must!
From ₱445
If you live or study in the Katipunan area, hearing about this lovely café would be unavoidable. For 15 years, Xocolat has been praised for serving original sweet and savory delicacies for chocolate enthusiasts. However, the store is best known for its wide array of hot chocolates.
The Old Fashioned Cacao Mix is one of their best-sellers, which is their take on the timeless milk chocolate variant of hot chocolate. With this, you can easily prepare their famous hot choco at home! This drink is best paired with their Pork Belly with Cacao Bagoong Sauce dish, Churros con Xocolat, Potato Croquettas, or Chorizo Blanco Pasta.
More delightful hot choco variants offered here are Dark, which has a bittersweet chocolate flavor, and Rush, which has a mocha flavor and is ideal for coffee-lovers. For those who are looking for a stronger taste, they also have the tablea-based Organic variant. You can order by checking out Lazada or sending them a message on IG or Viber.
From ₱475
As a local favorite, there’s no way we can exclude this one from our list! If you want to try something new, check out this dark hot chocolate from Theo and Philo. Their powdered hot choco is made from only three ingredients—cacao beans, sugar, and cocoa powder—which is responsible for its true chocolate taste.
It is said to have a bold, fruity, and bittersweet taste—a unique deviation from the usual hot chocolate. The secret behind its rich and deep flavor is the use of high-quality ingredients, particularly, cacao beans from Davao and sugar from Bacolod—no wonder it has received multiple awards from international organizations!
From ₱355
There's pride in having Auro Chocolate as a distinguished Philippine chocolate brand around the world, working hand-in-hand with local farmers to create tree-to-bar chocolate products. Besides powders and candy bars, they also have different types of tableas.
Specifically, their top-selling Unsweetened Chocolate Tablea Coins can suit your taste for a good cup of hot chocolate. When heated and combined with carabao's milk and muscovado sugar, it'll surely be a delight for your taste buds!
Winning gold at the Academy of Chocolate in 2019, these round tableas are made from 100% cacao butter. This product is also gluten-free and sugar-free, making it ideal for those who follow the Keto and vegan diets. Aside from the unsweetened variant, it also comes in white, dark, and milk chocolate.
From ₱475
Another homegrown brand is Malagos, which also hails from Davao. They are known for their award-winning chocolates, but their premium unsweetened tableas are a must-try! Each tablea disk is made from a single ingredient—100% pure chocolate from Mindanao. And you'll be glad to know that their products are Halal and HACCP and GMP-certified, further ensuring their quality.
To prepare, simply heat 1 cup of milk, add 5-8 tablea disks, and stir until well incorporated. After simmering, pour the mixture into your preferred container, add your favorite toppings, and enjoy! There’s power in being able to adjust everything to your liking, particularly the sweetness of the drink.
Indeed, drinking this rich and flavorful beverage with hot pan de sal is the perfect way to start your day! However, these tableas aren't just limited to hot chocolate. They can be used for baking brownies, cakes, and other pastries, making them a versatile ingredient to have in your kitchen.
From ₱290
Tim Hortons, a famous Canadian coffee shop, has made its way to the Philippines, and the hype remains strong for their in-store and retail products. For the latter, they released a canned version of their renowned hot chocolate, so you can have a relaxing Tim Hortons experience at home.
Tim Horton’s Hot Chocolate is said to be rich and smooth, with the right balance of sweetness and milky goodness in every sip. Some customers regard this as their go-to hot chocolate, with some recommending to try this with steamed milk or adding some ice on a hot day. It even became a constant repurchase for them and their family!
Although it's quite difficult to find hot white chocolate on the market, Starbucks stepped up with their own version of this drink! Their White Hot Chocolate consists of white chocolate sauce and steamed milk, plus a swirl of whipped cream on top.
The best part is that you can customize the drink according to your preference. For instance, you can request a certain type of milk, add syrup, not add foam, and more. This is a must-try since it's not every day you'd find white hot chocolate sold in stores.
Starbucks' White Hot Chocolate is available in three different sizes—Tall, Grande, and Venti—to satisfy your sweet cravings for the day. Should you want a cold beverage, getting this iced is also possible.
Who doesn't get giddy at the supermarket when you pass by the chocolate aisle, especially in the hot cocoa section? For sure, you've seen and tried many assortments of Swiss Miss, an American-based brand specializing in cocoa powder and pudding products for more than 50 years.
From all their variants, their cocoa mix with unicorn marshmallows is a hit for everyone of all ages. Aside from real cocoa, we have to mention the colorful marshmallows that make this drink more fun! Not only do they add texture to the hot choco, but they're also pleasing to the eyes. Plus, it is free from artificial ingredients, so you can have a sweet treat minus the guilt!
From ₱289
Lately, a debate between mint chocolate sparked as intensely as the pizza on pineapples argument. It’s either you like it or not, and if you do, PODiSTA offers these fragrant mint chocolate pods that guarantee the right blend of flavors without being too overpowering.
In each box, there are 10 capsules included, which are compatible with most Nespresso machines. You can either drink the beverage as is or you can also match it with steamed or frothed milk.
Most customers love its well-balanced flavors and would love to purchase this product again because of its refreshing taste. And the good news is, these pods are biodegradable in case you’re worried about their environmental impact.
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
Yes! Pregnant women can drink hot chocolate—but in moderation. While it's good to indulge in your sweet cravings once in a while, do check the caffeine content of the hot choco. Also, get one with low sugar content and pasteurized milk or cream. Just remember to limit your hot chocolate consumption to one to two cups a day.
Unfortunately, yes. Drinking hot chocolate can trigger acid reflux. Since it has high-fat content and contains substances that can increase your heart rate, chocolate can worsen acid reflux symptoms.
Yes, this warm beverage can help you sleep. If you plan to drink hot chocolate before bed, choose an unsweetened variant or one that's low in sugar—this can prevent a sugar rush, which can be counterproductive. In addition, try pairing your hot choco with milk, which increases serotonin levels in the brain to make you sleepy.
Who doesn’t miss chilling at a coffee shop to read, study, work, or catch up with old friends? Not to worry, as you can check out these ingredients that can help you whip up café-style beverages at home!
Author: Marielle Balmores
Editor, Re-editor: Aprille Jarcia
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
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