We will soon say goodbye to winter, and I cannot contain my happiness. But before we say adios to cold temperatures let’s look at the brown side of these dark times. Bad weather has never been an excuse for Londoners to stay indoors..well not at least when the smell of indulgent cocoa is in the air. Plus, who does not love chocolate? I have tried out four of the very best hot chocolates that London has to offer, and it is my pleasure to recommend them to you, my fellow chocoholics!
Mamasons Dirty Ice-Cream:
This Filipino ice-cream parlour offers very unusual ice-cream and dessert flavours; from cheese to ube flavoured sweet treats. Their most authentic product is white hot chocolate flavoured with ube, topped with ube whipped cream, served in a cup with marshmallow fluff and ube cookies around the rim. You’ll be wondering what ube is; it’s a traditional and popular food (purple yam) consumed in the Philippines. Ube hot chocolate has a light purple colour which makes it unique….. and its distinctive flavour will make you come back for more!
Mamasons Dirty Ice-Cream in Kentish Town.
Chin Chin Labs:
Made with Valrhona’s French premium chocolate, this hot chocolate is topped with a handmade marshmallow which is then torched. Chin Chin Labs’ owners explain the thinking behind their delicioous experiment: ‘what can we do to our hot chocolate that will make people go “OMG”? I know! how about we top it with the most delicious torched marshmallow ever made?’. The torched marshmallow compliments this rich hot chocolate so well by soothing its flavour and turning it even creamier. But it gets better, so please allow me to blow your minds; you can top this delicious mallowy (new word but so evocative!) hot chocolate with a brownie! It gets a bit messy, but it’s so worth it!
Chin Chin Labs in Camden Lock
Dark Sugars Cocoa House:
In the middle of chaotic Brick Lane, you will find the coolest chocolate shop with an African feel to it. This shop is adorned with real wood and mountains of chocolate blocks. Here you can find Ghanaian truffles, ice-cream and…..hot chocolate! From chilli to turmeric hot chocolate, and more. I cannot recommend the hazelnut hot chocolate strongly enough, it’s just too good to be true. Their signature is to top your desired hot chocolate with white, milk and dark chocolate shavings cut from huge chocolate blocks. The best part is when the chocolate shavings melt and your hot chocolate becomes even more chocolaty! This place is the dream of a chocoholic!
Dark Sugars in Brick Lane
SAID dal 1923:
Finally, hands down to the best hot chocolate in London. This Italian chocolate café makes their hot chocolate with melted chocolate brought from Rome. They offer the thickest hot chocolate in London – their indulgent and creamy hot chocolate has its sweetness balanced to perfection and it fills you up instantly. The hot chocolate comes in a mug smothered in white, milk and dark melted chocolate (easily lickable by the way). I must say that drinking this flawless hot chocolate was an experience that I will definitely repeat.
SAID dal 1923 in Tottenham Court Road
