I don’t like coffee and I’m picky about my tea, but I love hot chocolate—excessive amounts of lead or no. So, when the good folks at Candy Shop Cocoa offered to send me samples of their new Hershey’s candy-inspired cocoa mixes, it was an immediate “yes” from me. Four cups of hot cocoa later, I am here to report on these new hot cocoa mix flavors.
- Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Cocoa Mix
-
Pros: There’s starting off strong and there’s starting off “this is the best powdered hot chocolate I’ve ever had.” This is the latter. You know how you can make hot cocoa with milk or water? These packets all specifically say to use water because they’re already so rich and buttery. I couldn’t imagine drinking a cup of this made with milk without needing a nap immediately afterwards.
Cons: This is better than actual Hershey’s chocolate, so that’s confusing. Not really a negative, but I’m struggling to come up with anything bad to say here.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme Cocoa Mix
-
Pros: The flavor isn’t too strong, but thinking back on actual Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme bars, that isn’t inaccurate. Texture-wise, this is the creamiest of all the flavors (which, again, were all made with water). This was my least favorite of the batch and I’d still drink it in a heartbeat over any generic hot chocolate mix.
Cons: The mix looks like it contains small bits of cookie a la the original bar, but they do not add any texture to the final product. Why add them at all?
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- York Peppermint Pattie Cocoa Mix
-
Pros: This feels like eating a York Peppermint Pattie. It’s got the taste down, of course, but it also gives you that specific mouthfeel after biting through that unique peppermint creme texture. I would love to see Candy Shop Cocoa do a Hershey’s Special Dark hot cocoa mix if this is how well they treat a candy enrobed in dark chocolate.
Cons: I got a hint of that cough-drop cooling effect in the aftertaste that I didn’t love, but my co-samplers said I was dumb for thinking of that as a negative rather than extremely impressive for a hot drink. Peppermint is one of my least favorite flavors, so I acknowledge it’s probably bias on my part.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cocoa Mix
-
Pros: I can’t put into words how good this is. The flavor is so much more dynamic and layered than the other mixes. Oh, you can’t drink this because you’re allergic to peanuts? THERE’S NO PEANUT IN THIS. This is the most chocolate and peanut butter-flavored thing I’ve ever had, but it is somehow 100% peanut free. If you’ve had a peanut allergy since birth and you’re curious what all the Reese’s hype is about, pick up a box of this cocoa mix and find out what you’ve been missing.
Cons: I have nothing bad to say about this Nobel Prize-worthy achievement in flavor. Go buy it in bulk, put it out at your Christmas parties, and thank me later.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
This article contains affiliate links that may generate a small commission to us when you make a purchase through the link. Learn more about how we work with affiliates here.
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!