If an evening hot chocolate is more of a regular habit than a festive treat, powdered hot chocolate is typically cheaper and simpler to whip up. If you like to take a walk on the wilder side, why not try one of our hot chocolates with a twist for an extra special treat? If you can’t get enough of a Chocolate Orange, this one is for you! Carve 2 or 3 strips of orange rind (the skin) and let them steep in your drink for a while before drinking. That citrus flavour is a delight. If you're looking for a little bit of luxury, you don't necessarily need to reach for the priciest hot-chocolate brand. Our taste test revealed two clear winners – and they weren't the most expensive or well-known options. The products were tested in September 2022 by a large panel of consumers who regularly buy and consume hot chocolate. The make-up of the panel broadly represents the demographic profile of adults in the UK.

Asda Extra Special Fairtrade Indulgent Drinking Chocolate – 63%. Texture, specifically creaminess, was again the major issue for our panel. Though some tasters said they would prefer a sweeter and more chocolatey flavour, it's not bad if you're after the very cheapest. 92p per 100g. Available from Asda . There were other issues, too – as well as an underwhelming appearance and aroma, the majority of the panel found this drink wasn't sweet or creamy enough for their taste. Play around with toppings and flavours. Adding ginger or mint syrup will make your hot chocolate feel festive, as will garnishing with marshmallows, whipped cream or extra chocolate shavings on top. You can also sprinkle chocolate powder – or spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon – on top for a warming edge. See which supermarket hot chocolate beat the fancy flake brands below, plus the full rundown of results and our top tips for making the best hot chocolate at home.Cupsmith's hot chocolate was the lowest scorer in our taste test. Despite having one of the highest cocoa solid percentages (70%) of the solid products in our test, eight in 10 of our tasters found the chocolate flavour too weak. Our panel found huge differences between the best and worst, and M&S impressed us by beating the fancy chocolate brands to the top spot with it's more affordable yet delicious offering. Best Buy and Great Value: M&S Belgian Chocolate Flakes - 75% Heat, but don't boil, your milk. Even if you're using hot water to melt the chocolate nibs or dissolve your chocolate powder, topping up with fridge-cold milk isn't a great idea if you want a creamy texture. Just keep a close eye on your stove or microwave as you don't want it to boil over. If you’re avoiding moo-milk, our hot chocolates can be made with dairy alternatives for a dairy-free delight. If you’re dodging the dairy, we recommend coconut milk for a tropical spin on your evening indulgence.

The panelists rated the taste, mouthfeel, aroma and appearance of each product, and told us what they liked and disliked about each one. Tasters were less impressed with the other hot-chocolate powders we tested. Asda's version is the cheapest, but also came last overall.

Top 5 Hot Chocolate Powders

We ran two hot-chocolate tests: one on hot chocolates made of solid chocolate flakes, such as Hotel Chocolat, Charbonnel & Walker and Cupsmith; and another of premium hot-chocolate powders, including brands such as Twinings and Lindt, as well as supermarket rivals. Tips for living well - get the latest taste tests, food and health advice and insights straight to your inbox with our free monthly food & health newsletter.

Nothing beats cosying up under a blanket with a steaming mug of hot chocolate when the weather outside is freezing. Best Value Christmas Food - see which mince pies, sparkling wines and more came top for taste and value in our 2022 tests So, it’s up to you; which of these options is the perfect hot chocolate? Are you a traditionalist or do you like to experiment in the hot choc department? Twinings stood out from the rest, and is relatively widely available, while Clipper proved a good second choice: Best Buy: Twinings Swiss Hot Chocolate - 78%

Chocolate

Bear in mind that powdered hot chocolates tend to contain more sugar, because sugar rather than cocoa is often the main ingredient.