Hot chocolate is one of the most beloved and nostalgic of winter warmers. Holding on to a warm, toasty mug conjures memories of playing in the snow and the cozy warm up that follows. While the sugary instant hot cocoa mix with those cute little dehydrated marshmallows will always have a place in our hearts, we’ve got our sights set on a more decadent drinking experience: drinking chocolate. This artisan beverage is rich, pure and super chocolatey. Unlike commercial cocoa mixes made with loads of sugar and cocoa powder and (often) water, drinking chocolate is made with real chocolate, chopped or shaved, that’s gently dissolved in warm milk for a smooth and complex beverage.
Believe it or not, chocolate was primarily drunk – not eaten – until the 19th century. Drinking chocolate has roots in the Chinchipe River Valley, now Ecuador and Peru, where it was consumed by formative indigenous peoples before (likely) spreading northward into Mesoamerica and present-day Mexico. Once called xocolātl (bitter water), it was reserved for elites, warriors and special ceremonies and made with cornmeal, chili peppers and vanilla. After conquistador Hernán Cortés introduced the drink to Spain, Europeans transformed it with heat, cinnamon and sugar. Drinking chocolate became a luxury item and remained so until the Dutch invention of cocoa powder in the 18th century. Modern day chocolate lovers tend to consume it as a solid confection, but drinking chocolate is roaring back on to the scene with the rise of cafe culture and demand for high-quality, experiential products.
As January 31st is National Hot Chocolate Day, we’ve got the perfect excuse to seek out the most divine drinking chocolates in Pennsylvania. We’ve found five artisans producing drinking chocolates you can purchase online and at their cafes and markets to try a mug of these gourmet goods for yourself.
Chocolate Alechemist (Philadelphia)
If anyone’s making pure, authentic drinking chocolate in PA, it’s Robert Campbell, aka the Chocolate Alchemist. Based in Philadelphia, he produces lines of high quality drinking chocolate using clean, direct trade ingredients and decades of blending experience. Campbell is passionate about cacao, honoring it as a superfood with myriad flavor expressions rather than a vessel for sugar. He makes his 100% vegan drinking chocolates with organic, direct trade cacao, an unrefined cane sugar called panela and cocoa butter along with goodies like local maple sugar, hazelnuts, Madagascan vanilla and sea salt.
At present, Chocolate Alchemist offers five varieties, which you can buy online and at Philly area farmers markets. The Clasico is a great entry point – creamy, bittersweet and meant to be made with milk. Cacique is for “hardcore dark chocolate lovers,” inspired by indigenous Latin American recipes and meant to be mixed with water. Cuaima is Chocolate Alchemist’s take on the Mayan cacao drink, made with Mexican cinnamon and chiles for heat and the Mocha variety delicately blends Guatemalan coffee with dark chocolate. The newest and sweetest variety, Go! Oat, is a nut-free infusion of dark chocolate, toasted oats and maple sugar. Buyer beware: you might get hooked. Various locations; (215) 763-2500.
Shane Confectionary (Philadelphia)
Philadelphia’s Shane Confectionary, the oldest continually-running confectionary in the nation, offers a signature drinking chocolate mix and craft dark drinking chocolate among its selection of elegant and scrumptious chocolates treats. You’ll find chunks of house made chocolate in the mixes, which melt in milk to create a thick, sumptuous beverage. Other seasonal varieties have included a rose blend with real petals and spicy cinnamon chili with a slow, low heat. Don’t forget a pack of big, fluffy vanilla bean marshmallows for good measure.
While you can certainly order canister for home (single or five serving sizes available), we suggest an in-person visit to the beautiful Old City chocolate cafe. You’ll feel whisked back in time, surrounded by antique signage, finishes and furnishing. Sip on a hot or iced drinking chocolate inside the historic cafe, or take it on a stroll to Penn’s Landing for river views. 110 Market St., Philadelphia; (215) 922-1048.
Heidi’s Drinking Chocolate (Easton)
Heidi’s Drinking Chocolate in Easton makes gourmet drinking chocolate fun and festive. Its wide array of flavors starts with classics like rich dark chocolate and smooth milk chocolate before expanding into cute and creative options like white chocolate birthday cake, thin mint with creme de menthe and chocolate, and “gem stone” variety with colorful, sugary gems throughout.
The artistry extends to the packaging, with jars of all shapes and sizes decorated and stuffed full of chocolate shavings. For just $5 extra, you can make your selection into a gift bag complete with a mug and spoon. It’s best to order ahead as the supply can be limited. Heidi’s offers local delivery, in-store pickup and shipping for orders over $100. 2664 Eldridge Ave., Easton; (610) 587-3007.
Moka Origins (Honesdale)
Moka Origins is a farm to bean to bar (and beverage!) chocolate maker in northeastern Pennsylvania. It’s set back among the rolling hills and woods of the 400-acre Himalayan Institute, so the zen vibe is set before you even walk through the cafe doors. Moka Origins specializes in small-batch, ethically sourced chocolate and coffee supporting a community farming project in Cameroon.
The drinking chocolates of Moka Origins are made with organic cacao along with cane sugar, cocoa butter and flavoring like vanilla bean, peppermint oil and cayenne. Its Pure Dark Drinking Chocolate contains just cocoa beans, cocoa butter and cane sugar, while the peppermint variety includes a touch of concentrated mint for a silky-cool tone. If you don’t mind heat, we recommend the Mexican Spice flavor, made with Ugandan vanilla, single origin cinnamon and just enough cayenne pepper to awaken your senses. All of the velvety drinking chocolates are made by slowly melting the mix in warm milk. 952 Bethany Turnpike, Honesdale; (570) 979-1010.
Frederic Loraschi Chocolate (Harrisburg)
Frederic Loraschi in Harrisburg is named for its owner who combines French tradition with innovative new flavor combinations using single origin chocolate from farms around the world. There’s very little sugar and zero preservatives in its delicate products, which include a signature gourmet drinking chocolate. The vegan, gluten free ingredients can be made hot or cold by simply adding the milk of your choice. The mix is made with cocoa beans, sugar and fine vanilla for a lightly sweet, roasty treat.
Frederic Loraschi, which is situated about five miles from downtown Harrisburg in Colonial Park, takes a winter break from Christmas through January. Head there after February 2 to grab a bag, or shop online. 4615 Hillcrest St., Harrisburg; no phone.
- Feature photo: Shane Confectionary
- Mug in snow: Bigstock
- All other photos : Courtesy of the respective business
