As the colder months roll in, there’s nothing quite as comforting as a hot chocolate. For me, it’s a staple drink during this time of year, but it’s also one that can quickly become an expensive habit, especially when opting for well-known brands like Cadbury’s and Galaxy. The rising cost of living has prompted me to conduct numerous taste tests over the last year or so, and this one was no exception. I wanted to see whether supermarket drinking chocolates could offer a satisfying alternative without sacrificing too much in terms of taste or quality.
Unlike instant hot chocolate powders, these drinking chocolates are designed to be made with milk rather than water, which is how I prefer them—richer, creamier, and closer to something you’d order in a cafe. Comparing supermarket versions directly with pricier, branded products made for a surprising test. The differences in flavour, texture and overall indulgence were more noticeable than I expected, and it quickly became clear that not all drinking chocolates are created equal. Where I couldn’t find drinking chocolates, I opted for instant, just to see whether there was a difference. For this test, I ensured that I followed the packet instructions and tested the products from seven supermarkets, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl, and M&S.
Tesco Traditional Drinking Chocolate (£1.99 for 400g)
Tesco’s drinking chocolate tasted very good, if not better, than Cadbury and Galaxy alternatives. It was delicious when mixed with warm milk. However, according to reviews online, it isn’t easy to get your hands on it, so I’m savouring my last little bit.
Score: 8/10
Marks and Spencer Drinking Chocolate (£4 for 300g)
One of the more expensive drinking chocolates, M&S’s drinking chocolate, completely missed the mark for me. I followed the packet instructions, but the flavour was too strong and bitter for my liking. If you prefer a slightly richer hot chocolate, you’ll love this, but it wasn’t what I was looking for.
Score: 4/10
Asda Drinking Chocolate (£2.78 for 500g)
Asda’s drinking chocolate was pretty average for me, but you got a decent amount of powder for the price. It had a subtle chocolate flavour, but I would definitely drink it again.
Score: 6/10
Sainsbury’s Drinking Chocolate (£3.50 for 300g)
Sainsbury’s never fails to miss the mark with all of their own-brand products, and this drinking chocolate took the top spot for me. The supermarket’s own-brand has become a firm favourite in my house, with many recent tests being won by Sainsbury’s. The drinking chocolate was creamy, subtly rich and had a gorgeous texture. While it was one of the more expensive ones I tried, it was totally worth it.
Score: 10/10
Morrisons Drinking Chocolate (£2.75 for 500g)
I didn’t love this drinking chocolate from Morrisons, and it tasted more like an instant hot chocolate compared to something which should be richer. It was so sweet I couldn’t finish the drink, and I wouldn’t drink this again.
Score: 3/10
Cadbury Drinking Hot Chocolate Powder (£4.50 for 500)
An absolute classic with a distinct flavour, Cadbury’s hot chocolate is delicious. However, I think there were many better options in the taste test, as this is quite pricey.
Score: 7/10
Galaxy Instant Hot Chocolate Drink (£4 for 370g)
Also, another classic, Galaxy’s hot chocolate has a rich and creamy flavour, but I can’t justify the price. I’ve tried both instant and drinking chocolate varieties, and whilst I do prefer the drinking chocolate, the instant is also flavoursome.
Score: 7/10
Aldi’s Dairyfine instant hot chocolate (prices vary)
As with Marks and Spencer’s, I found Aldi’s instant hot chocolate to be slightly too strong for me. It recommended four heaped teaspoons of powder, compared to Lidl’s three, so I might need to try it again with less powder. Again, I didn’t love how long the ingredients list was, but that’s similar to all instant chocolates.
Score: 5/10
Lidl’s Bellarom instant hot chocolate (prices vary)
Whilst the ingredients list was too long for my liking, Lidl’s instant hot chocolate really surprised me. As with all instant powders, it is recommended to use boiling water instead of milk; however, I did top it off with a little milk to make it creamy. It was delicious and creamy, and I’ll definitely be drinking this again.
Score: 8/10
