Swiss Miss vs. Nestle Abuelita vs. Ghirardelli vs. Starbucks Hot Chocolate: Which to Choose?

What's the best hot cocoa mix?

There are many hot chocolate and hot cocoa brands on the market, so I have found the 4 most popular hot cocoa drink brands for you through screening and testing:

• Nestle Abuelita Mexican Hot Chocolate Tablets

• Swiss Miss Classics Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix

• GHIRARDELLI Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix

• Starbucks Classic Hot Cocoa Mix 

These rich blends of deep chocolate flavor will help you stay warm and cozy on the coldest of days. But which one should I choose?

Best hot cocoa comparison: Swiss Miss vs. Nestle Abuelita vs. Ghirardelli vs. Starbucks

Editor's review: Swiss Miss vs. Nestle Abuelita vs. Ghirardelli vs. Starbucks: Which brand of hot cocoa wins?

My first choice is Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix.

($39.95 FROM Ghirardelli- Get Up To 8% Cash Back)

First, it’s both hot cocoa and hot chocolate! Its ingredient list speaks volumes about its premium quality.

Second, Ghirardelli presents the richest chocolate flavor, with a hint of vanilla balancing the chocolate flavor. The flavor is complex but clearly discernible.

Third, it's creamier than the others and has a nice texture without being overly sweet.

Fourth, Ghirardelli is not cheap, but I can save a little money by getting up to 8% rebate offer. After all, I think its value is directly proportional to its quality.

For more details and differences on hot cocoa products, continue browsing below.

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Details

Real reviews of popular hot cocoa mixes

1. Nestle Abuelita Mexican Hot Chocolate Tablets

($3.97 FROM Walmart - Get Up To 3% Cash Back)

  ☕️  Ingredients

SUGAR, CHOCOLATE, SOY LECITHIN, VEGETABLE OIL (PALM, SHEA NUT AND/OR ILLIPE NUT), ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, PGPR (EMULSIFIER), COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI.

Yes, what makes this hot chocolate different from other hot cocoa is the addition of spicy, warming cinnamon.

It is included in the ingredient list among artificial flavors.

Abuelita is a chocolate tablet that dissolves with milk, to prepare a delicious hot chocolate or it can be used as an ingredient to prepare authentic Hispanic recipes.

  ☕️  Nutrition facts

24 servings per container

Serving size                                      

1/4 tablet (23 g)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 100

Total Fat 3.5g

  Saturated Fat 2g

  Trans Fat 0g  

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 0mg

Total Carbohydrate 18g

  Dietary Fiber 1g

  Total Sugars 16g  

  Added Sugars 16g

Protein <1g  

Potassium 60mg

The downside to Abuelita is that it contains about 16 grams of sugar per serving, much more than some competitors.

  ☕️  Taste

It's a smooth hot chocolate with a hint, a light touch of cinnamon.

This drink has the most unique flavor profile compared to other drinks. Although cinnamon is not listed as an ingredient, the beloved fall spice is quite prominent and I found its flavor irresistible.

While the hot chocolate tastes rich overall, with a rich chocolate flavor, there's also enough sweetness to temper the bitterness. The rich Mexican cinnamon flavor is embellished in it, full of festive atmosphere, full of exotic atmosphere, and completely unique.

  ☕️  Texture

It's not the powdered mix that many Americans have become used to when buying pre-made cocoa, but instead comes in a "tablet" form. 

Simply heat 4 cups of milk and one Abuelita hot chocolate drink tablets in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. 

While heating the milk and stirring until the tablet dissolves takes a bit of time, the end result is four cups worth of delicious, creamy, rich cocoa. 

  ☕️  Value

To keep your wallet and your stomach happy, grab Nestle Abuelita Mexican Hot Chocolate Tablets at Walmart for $3.97.

One 6 count box will make 24 servings of Abuelita. This Hot Chocolate is only $0.16 per serving, but it has gourmet flavors you're sure to love.

While hot chocolate is a delicious drink that we all enjoy drinking in large quantities, drinking it on a regular basis can be expensive.

In order to enjoy hot chocolate as much as possible, most of us need an inexpensive option, and we want one that still tastes good. I think Nestle Abuelita Mexican Hot Chocolate Tablets are just that.

Finally, what people said about Abuelita:

“I like this one a lot!” “There’s cinnamon in here!” “It’s rich and creamy, and I love the cinnamon.” “I like it, but I can’t drink a lot of it.”“If you want some bold hot cocoa, this is the one for you."”It's not expensive.“

2. Swiss Miss Classics Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix

($7.70 FROM Walmart - Get Up To 3% Cash Back)

  ☕️  Ingredients

Sugar, Corn Syrup, Modified Whey, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Nonfat Milk, Less Than 2% Of: Salt, Dipotassium Phosphate, Mono- and Diglycerides, Natural Flavor. CONTAINS: MILK.

The ingredients are, well, disappointing: cocoa is fourth on the list. 

The cocoa beans used by Swiss Misss are not as high-quality as those used by Ghirardelli, so in comparison, the taste and aroma of its chocolate are a bit lacking.

It's quite sweet but has a pleasant foaminess that the other cups lack. Made with real milk, this hot cocoa has the timeless flavor that moms know and kids love. 

  ☕️  Nutrition facts

30 servings per container

Serving Size 1 Envelope

Amount per serving

Calories 160

Total Fat 2g

Saturated Fat 2g

Trans Fat 0g

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 170mg

Total Carbohydrate 34g

Dietary Fiber<1.00g

Sugars 28g

Added Sugars 23g

Protein 1g

Calcium 40mg

Potassium 320mg

Iron 1.80mg

The downside to the Swiss Miss brand is that, while delicious, it has the highest sugar content of any brand I've tried (28g). It also uses corn syrup as a sweetener, which some customers may not like.

  ☕️  Taste

This classic Swiss Miss product tastes strangely salty at first bite, resulting in an overly sweet aftertaste. Most customers' comments about its sweetness make sense considering the first two ingredients are sugar and corn syrup.

The level of chocolate was lacking and tasted artificial. This mix did dissolve extremely well and it was creamy enough to be enjoyable but it wasn't rich or decadent.

  ☕️  Texture

Swiss Miss has easy-to-use packets and calls for water or milk, which can be handy. 

When using water I noticed the watery texture and sugary taste, it tasted like "drinking sugar water with a chocolate flavor".

But if you insist on using milk for mixing, you can also find that it tastes delicious and full of creamy texture.

  ☕️  Value

Swiss Miss isn't the most expensive, nor is it the cheapest, at 26 cents per serving. But its single-serve packaging is really easy to carry and store.

If this is the hot cocoa you grew up drinking, nostalgia might make it more enjoyable, but there are better options.

3. GHIRARDELLI Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix

($39.95 FROM Ghirardelli- Get Up To 8% Cash Back)

  ☕️  Ingredients

Sugar, cocoa processed with alkali, unsweetened chocolate, soy lecithin, vanilla extract.

Ghirardelli began with a young Italian chocolatier in the early 1800s and is now a brand widely known for its rich flavors. 

This hot cocoa mix is made with high-quality cocoa beans and just the right amount of sugar and vanilla extract. Decadent and rich, with sweet, subtle vanilla notes.

  ☕️  Nutrition facts

12 servings per container

Serving Size 24 g

Amount per serving

Calories 90

Total Fat 1g

Saturated Fat 0.5g

Trans Fat 0g

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 0mg

Total Carbohydrate 22g

Dietary Fiber 2g

Sugars 19g

Added Sugars 19g

Protein 1g

Calcium 10mg

Potassium 130mg

Iron 0.8mg 

At 19 grams, Ghirardelli has a bit less sugar than some of our other picks. Sweetened ground chocolate and cocoa are also the first ingredients, so you can rest assured that you're getting more chocolate for your money.

  ☕️  Taste

If you demand the richest chocolate taste you can find, then Ghirardelli is probably going to become your go-to.

It has a deeper chocolate flavor, with a roasted undertone that I haven't detected in many other products, and has just the right amount of sweetness that many customers agree.

It's creamier than the others, but not cloying. There's a hint of vanilla that balances out the rich flavor of the double chocolate.

  ☕️  Texture

Ghirardelli's Double Chocolate mix is admittedly almost too decadent, so it's best left for small servings. 

Stir up some decadence with velvety smooth Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix. 

  ☕️  Value

I really like Ghirardelli, even though it's twice the price of Swiss Miss. Each Ghirardelli hot cocoa is priced at $0.55.

However, it is of very high quality as it contains cocoa and chocolate.

Of all the hot chocolate drinks, this one has one of the richest consistency. It delivers a delightfully creamy flavor in every bite.

Plus, it has a very high flavor, which is attributed to its "real cocoa flavor"; it also has a dark chocolate flavor.

I think the extra money is worth a cup of hot chocolate!

4. Starbucks Classic Hot Cocoa Mix 

($8.48 FROM Sam's Club - Get Up To 15% Cash Back)

  ☕️  Ingredients

CANE SUGAR, COCOA, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), NATURAL VANILLA FLAVOR.

Starbucks may be best known for its coffee, but the company still attracts people with its other hot beverages, such as hot cocoa.

The noticeable absence of added milk powder gives this cocoa mix an advantage over others for those sensitive to dairy. 

  ☕️  Nutrition facts

Serving per Container about 20

Serving Size 2 1/2 Tbsp (28g)

Calories 100

Total Fat 2.5g

Saturated Fat 1.5g

Trans Fat 0g

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 0mg

Total Carb. 22g

Dietary Fiber 3g

Sugars 17g

Protein 2g

Calcium 20mg

Potassium 280mg

Iron 4mg 

  ☕️  Taste

The packaging describes the mix as "smooth, velvety cocoa with rich chocolate notes."

In fact, the consistency of this drink is smooth and velvety, and the chocolate flavor is really noticeable. However, unlike the other mixes, this one has a slightly earthy flavor, which creates a somewhat bitter aftertaste.

The vanilla is less noticeable in this cocoa than in the Ghirardelli cocoa. Despite this, the flavor was every bit as complex.

  ☕️  Texture

It does come with all the flavor and texture of a Starbucks hot chocolate. Slightly hard to dissolve.

  ☕️  Value

Rather than being extra sweet, Starbucks’s take on Hot Cocoa is sophisticated, with a richer, more semisweet taste overall. It'll give you restaurant-quality hot chocolate without having to go to the restaurant. 

So it's no surprise that Starbucks Hot Cocoa prices are on the higher end.

A serving costs $0.42, which is still a bit cheaper than my most expensive option, Ghirardelli's Double Chocolate.

But personally, I would prefer Ghirardelli's Double Chocolate because it's full of flavor, decadent, smooth, and of the best quality.

Swiss Miss vs. Nestle Abuelita vs. Ghirardelli vs. Starbucks: Which brand of hot cocoa wins?

My first choice is Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix.($39.95 FROM Ghirardelli- Get Up To 8% Cash Back)

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