The Good: Tastes wonderful, Easy to prepare!
The Bad: Not the most environmentally impressive packaging, Seems to be more expensive.
The Basics: A good, but not exceptional, hot cocoa, the Nestle Chocolate Mint cocoa is not as minty as I might like, but is an affordable alternative to other mint cocoas.
Often, I find myself surprised at how cautious people are. For sure, many people do seem to enjoy the basics, the "vanilla" flavors that are common in various food and drink. For some reason I shall never fathom, people seem to love basic, unflavored teas and they'll eat American cheese and vanilla, chocolate or strawberry ice cream. I do what I can to encourage people to enjoy the full range of tastes out there by reviewing delicious flavors of teas, Jelly Belly jelly beans and decadent chocolates. I've even started branching out into sharp cheddar cheeses and I continue to have more added to the database. I suspect, though, that for most people, their experience with hot cocoa is something like the basic Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa with marshmallows (click here for my review!). This is why I am happy I have found (and am able to enthusiastically recommend) Nestle Chocolate Mint hot cocoa mix.
This is not the first time I have found a chocolate mint cocoa, but Nestle's new foray into chocolate mint hot cocoa is certainly the most affordable one to hit the market yet. And while Chocolate Mint is a more expensive flavor of hot cocoa mix than most of Nestle's other flavors, it is still less expensive than the Land O'Lakes Mint & Chocolate packets (reviewed here!). Nestle now offers an affordable alternative to Land O'Lakes and it is about time!
Basics
Nestle Mint Chocolate Hot Cocoa mix is a hot chocolate mix put out by Nestle. The box of hot cocoa packets is a pretty standard package of a dozen packets in each box. Each packet contains .91 ounces packets of hot chocolate mix. Trading on the flavor of Mint chocolate, Nestle establishes a very drinkable hot cocoa that will stir up the tastebuds of those trapped with a more pedestrian milk chocolate cocoa. This hot cocoa is relatively new to the market and I've discovered it is taking its time hitting grocery store shelves, so it might be easier to find it online than in your local grocery store.
Ease Of Preparation
Nestle Mint Chocolate Hot Cocoa mix is very easy to prepare, as most hot chocolate products are. Because each packet in the box is a single serving, one need only have a mug large enough to accommodate the powdered mix and some water with a little room for mixing it around. Because the powder has some mass to it before it is dissolved, I recommend using an 8 oz. mug.
Preparation is simple; empty the contents of a single packet from the box into an eight ounce mug. Bring a pot of water to a near-boil - the Mint Chocolate hot cocoa does not require boiling water, just very hot water. Boiling the water does not cook the powder, so if one does boil the water, there is no adverse consequence to the beverage. Once the water is hot, simply pour six fluid ounces of water over the powder and stir it up. It is that easy to make!
Taste
Nestle Mint Chocolate hot cocoa has only a faintly minty aroma. As a result, consumers might anticipate this to be a more chocolatey and less minty beverage. Fortunately, Nestle has a surprise in store for the naysayers. While the aroma is only faintly minty, it is not fleshed out any with any other scent, so consumers are left with minimal expectations going in.
This Mint chocolate flavored hot cocoa is rather unassuming. The chocolate flavor washes over the tongue like a milky caress and the dominant flavor is one of milk chocolate. However, just as the consumer is thinking that they have been had, the flavor of mint rolls over the tongue and the aftertaste is delightfully zesty and clearly the taste of mint. Nestle Chocolate Mint cocoa is not the most distinctive blend of the chocolate and mint flavors, but it does possess both flavors and it is a good drink.
As the cocoa cools, the taste of mint becomes more distinct and it does seem to blend with the chocolate better, becoming a more balanced beverage. This makes it a very soothing and energizing cocoa and a nice way to shake up one's daily beverage routine. Unfortunately, if the drink gets too cool, it begins to taste more watery, which is also why I don't recommend adding milk to cool it down.
Nutrition
Nestle Mint Chocolate Hot Cocoa is a chocolately drink, so any expectation that this is a beverage that is going to meet a lot of one's daily needs is fairly unrealistic. Still, there are worse beverages out on the market. One serving - a single packet - has 100 calories, twenty-five of which are from fat. With three grams of fat, this drink is not a dieter's beverage, but it could be worse. This Mint Chocolate flavored hot cocoa has no cholesterol or any vitamin or mineral nutrients, outside calcium (which it has an impressive 30% of the RDA!), but it does have 190 mg of sodium. This is not a food to try to live off of.
It is hardly a surprise that Nestle Mint Chocolate Hot Cocoa is not a nutritious food product considering that the primary ingredients are sugar, corn syrup solids, and dairy product solids (from milk). For those with allergies, it is noted on the package that the powder contains milk and the powder is processed on equipment that also process soy and wheat.
Storage/Clean-up
Nestle Mint Chocolate Hot Cocoa mix is ridiculously easy to store and clean up. Because the packets are individual servings and self-contained, as long as one does not store the packets underwater, they will last. Strangely, though, Nestle has very conservative expiration dates on this product. My box of cocoa, purchased in September 2009, has an expiration date in December 2010, but it is hard to imagine this would not last past the expiration date so long as the packets inside are kept cool and dry.
Cleaning up Nestle Mint Chocolate Hot Cocoa mix is easy, as it is a powder which may be easily brushed up. If one spills it after it is mixed with water, it is likely to stain lighter fabrics and one ought to consult one's fabric guide for cleaning if that happens. Mugs, though, clean right out with hot water as this fluid does not stain ceramics.
Overall
With winter right around the corner, Nestle releases a new cocoa, Chocolate Mint and it fortunately lives up to the expectations of those who love those two flavors.
For other hot chocolate beverages, please check out my reviews of:
Nestles Caramel Cocoa
Land O’ Lakes Chocolate & Caramel Cocoa
Swiss Miss Dark Chocolate Sensation
7/10
For other food and drink reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!
© 2010, 2009 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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