Where's The Marshmallow?! Land O'Lakes S'Mores Cocoa Is Too Tough To Execute Properly!

The Good: Good flavor, Easy to prepare
The Bad: Fairly expensive in this form, Environmental impact of packaging, Doesn't actually have the marshmallow flavor of s'mores!
The Basics: Good, but not truly great, the Land O' Lakes S'mores Hot Cocoa is still worth trying!


I admire ambition, in all things I experience (and review). Ambitious movies, ambitious musical recordings, even ambitious foods impress me for the attempt, if not their execution. I was instantly impressed by the Land O'Lakes S'Mores Hot Cocoa. I love flavored hot cocoas and S'mores is a neat flavor. Following on the heels of their Chocolate Graham cocoa (reviewed here!), Land O'Lakes S'mores Cocoa seems like a flavor the company could conceivably pull off. Unfortunately, the flavor balance between the three key elements of S'mores - chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows - prove to be an impossible combination for the company to pull off in cocoa form.

The only real problem with the S'mores Cocoa is that it fails to live up to the flavor of marshmallows in its flavor palate.

Basics

The S'mores hot cocoa mix is part of the Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics premium hot cocoa line. The mix comes in a 1 1/4 oz. sealed foil package and is a pretty delicious mix. Each 1 1/4 oz. packet is a single serving and these bear a relatively high price tag virtually everywhere I have found them of approximately three for two dollars. For a single mug of cocoa, this is expensive when compared to other make-at-home products, but about on par with getting a cocoa at a place like Starbucks.

Ease Of Preparation

The Cocoa Classics S'mores hot cocoa mix is ridiculously simple to make. Because it is sealed and has some artificial preservatives in is, this is likely to last virtually forever unopened. A single serving is the packet and six oz. of water. There is no measuring of the product involved!

As a result, preparation is ridiculously simple. The top of the envelope has a perforated edge and one need simply tear open the top, which is quite easy, and pour the contents of the packet into a mug that is at least eight ounces large. Then, simply pour hot water - near boiling, but not actually boiling as boiling water cooks the ingredients as opposed to simply dissolving them - over the powder and stir. Stir the powder until there are no blobs of chocolate powder visible in the water or giving resistance from the bottom. The beverage will have a light brown color to it and will be uniformly smooth and creamy.

Taste

The S'mores cocoa has a wonderful aroma to it. The scent is strong with the aroma of graham crackers and there is enough in the aroma to hint at the chocolate flavor, too. There is nothing in the scent that screams "marshmallow," so the scent is very much the embodiment of graham crackers and chocolate.

On the flavor front, S'mores cocoa is a good balance of chocolate and graham cracker flavor. The milk chocolate flavor Land O' Lakes was striving for is balanced well by the cinnamon and graham flavor one would expect from a S'mores cocoa. This is a very sweet cocoa flavor, which is dominated by the graham cracker flavor over the chocolate. Even in the sweet aftertaste, there is not really any marshmallow in the S'mores cocoa's flavor.

Nutrition

Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics are hot cocoa mix and therefore not the most nutritious things in the known world, though the S'mores flavor could be far less nutritious than it is. The S'mores hot cocoa has a few ingredients that cannot be easily identified. The primary ingredients are sugar, nonfat dry milk and whey. It is not vegan compliant as a result. There are no flavorings in the ingredient list that would define the beverage as graham cracker flavored!

What is not a mystery is how high this product is in sugars. In each cup of S'mores Cocoa Classics, there are 140 calories, twenty-five of which are from fat. There are 2.5 grams of saturated fat, so while one might be tempted to curl up and enjoy this while resting, they are likely to pay for it later on! While there is no cholesterol, a consumer gets 11% of their recommended daily allowance of salt out of a single packet of this beverage! There is a little protein, but not enough to live off this. In other words, this product is not a nutritious food product.

This product contains soy and milk and because there are no notations on it, one must assume it is not Kosher or gluten-free.

Storage/Cleanup

So long as one leaves the S'mores Cocoa Classic powder in its packet, it ought to stay usable. Given that it had an expiration date almost two years away - our package had an expiration date of February 27, 2017 - one assumes it will last quite a while and dissolve appropriately when one attempts to use it. The packets, for those of us who consider the environmental impact of such things, are terribly wasteful and expensive. The foil/plastic wrappers are not recyclable anywhere I've been.

Cleanup is very easy as well. If the product spills while dumping it into the mug, simply wipe it up or brush it up with a dry or damp cloth. If it has already been reconstituted with water into hot cocoa, simply wipe it up. Light fabrics are likely to stain if this gets on them, in which case consult your fabric care guide to clean it up.

Overall

Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics are good, but the S'mores flavor does not add anything to the line that the Chocolate Graham did not already do. The result is a good flavor, but not quite all that the name promises!

For other Land O' Lakes hot chocolate drinks, please visit my reviews of:
Warm Oatmeal Cookie Cocoa
French Vanilla & Chocolate cocoa
Arctic White

7/10

For other food or drink reviews, please visit my Food & Drink Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2015 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics Warm Oatmeal Cookie Delights With Its Realism!

The Good: Wonderful flavor, Easy to prepare
The Bad: Comparatively expensive, Environmental impact of packaging, Not a real thirst quencher
The Basics: With its inviting aroma and dry flavor, Land O' Lakes' Warm Oatmeal Cookie Hot Cocoa hits its flavor mark!


Every now and then, I encounter a truly delightful product that is almost exactly like what it claims to be, even if it is not the most satisfying product in the world. That's somehow where I landed on Land O'Lakes Warm Oatmeal Cookie Hot Cocoa Mix. Oatmeal cookie is an intriguing concept for a cocoa flavor and while it is esoteric and perfectly rendered, it is not exactly a thirst-quencher. That said, it is an intensely flavorful and wonderful hot cocoa!

Basics

The Warm Oatmeal Cookie hot cocoa mix is part of the Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics premium hot cocoa line. The mix comes in a 1 1/4 oz. sealed foil package and is a pretty delicious mix. Each 1 1/4 oz. packet is a single serving and these bear a relatively high price tag virtually everywhere I have found them of approximately three for two dollars. For a single mug of cocoa, this is expensive when compared to other make-at-home products, but about on par with getting a cocoa at a place like Dunkin' Donuts.

Ease Of Preparation

The Cocoa Classics Warm Oatmeal Cookie hot cocoa mix is ridiculously simple to make. Because it is sealed and has some artificial preservatives in is, this is likely to last virtually forever unopened. A single serving is the packet and six oz. of water. There is no measuring of the product involved!

As a result, preparation is ridiculously simple. The top of the envelope has a perforated edge and one need simply tear open the top, which is quite easy, and pour the contents of the packet into a mug that is at least eight ounces large. Then, simply pour hot water - near boiling, but not actually boiling as boiling water cooks the ingredients as opposed to simply dissolving them - over the powder and stir. Stir the powder until there are no blobs of chocolate powder visible in the water or giving resistance from the bottom. The beverage will have a light brown color to it and will be uniformly smooth and creamy.

Taste

The aroma from the Warm Oatmeal Cookie hot cocoa is strong and inviting. One does not have to love oatmeal cookies to enjoy the scent of oatmeal with a hint of raisins.

On the flavor front, Land O' Lakes Warm Oatmeal Cookie hot cocoa tastes exactly like it promises. The beverage is surprisingly dry and tastes exactly like an oatmeal cookie (no raisins). It is not overly sweet and tastes like a cookie with a hint of brown sugar to the aftertaste.

Nutrition

Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics are hot cocoa mix and therefore not the most nutritious things in the known world, though the Warm Oatmeal Cookie flavor could be far less nutritious than it is. While I am used to reviewing things like all natural teas where the ingredients are all easily pronounceable and recognizable, the Warm Oatmeal Cookie hot cocoa has a few ingredients that cannot be easily identified. The primary ingredients are sugar, nonfat dry milk and whey. It is not vegan compliant as a result. Ironically, there is nothing even resembling oatmeal flavoring in the ingredient list.

What is not a mystery is how high this product is in sugars. In each cup of Warm Oatmeal Cookie Cocoa Classics, there are 140 calories, twenty-five of which are from fat. There are 3 grams of saturated fat, so while one might be tempted to curl up and enjoy this while resting, they are likely to pay for it later on! While there is no cholesterol, a consumer gets 11% of their recommended daily allowance of sodium out of a single packet of this beverage! There is a little protein (3 grams), but not enough to live off this. In other words, this product is not a nutritious food.

This product contains soy and milk and because there are no notations on it, one must assume it is not Kosher or gluten-free.

Storage/Cleanup

So long as one leaves the Warm Oatmeal Cookie Cocoa Classic powder in its packet, it ought to stay usable. Given that it has an expiration date almost two years away (the packet my wife got last week has a February 25, 2017 expiration date), one assumes it will last quite a while and dissolve appropriately when one attempts to use it. The packets, for those of us who consider the environmental impact of such things, are terribly wasteful and expensive. The foil/plastic wrappers are not recyclable anywhere I've been.

Cleanup is very easy as well. If the product spills while dumping it into the mug, simply wipe it up or brush it up with a dry or damp cloth. If it has already been reconstituted with water into hot cocoa, simply wipe it up. Light fabrics are likely to stain if this gets on them, in which case consult your fabric care guide to clean it up.

Overall

One of the better, more intriguing flavors of Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics, the Warm Oatmeal Cookie is well worth trying!

For other Land O' Lakes hot chocolate drinks, please visit my reviews of:
Butterscotch & Chocolate Hot Cocoa
French Vanilla & Chocolate Hot Cocoa
Chocolate & Caramel Hot Cocoa

8/10

For other food or drink reviews, please visit my Beverage Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2015 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Liquid Hot Butterscotch: Land O’Lakes Butterscotch & Chocolate Cocoa Is Good, Not Great!

The Good: Good taste and aroma, Nothing truly bad in it!
The Bad: Very expensive in this form, Environmental impact of packaging
The Basics: Mostly meeting the needs of those who love the flavor of butterscotch, Land O’Lakes Butterscotch & Chocolate hot cocoa is not balanced between the chocolate and butterscotch flavors.


One of the nice things about the late summer is that, locally at least, prices for hot cocoa and tea seem to drop before people might actually start stocking up on them. As a result, I was thrilled to find a local grocery store that was discounting Land O’Lakes cocoas and there I found a flavor I had not yet tried: Land O’Lakes Butterscotch & Chocolate hot cocoa.

The Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics Butterscotch & Chocolate hot cocoa is interesting, but not incredible and it does not find a good balance between the two promised flavors.

Basics

The Butterscotch & Chocolate hot cocoa mix is part of the Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics premium hot cocoa line. The mix comes in a 1 1/4 oz. sealed foil package and is a delicious mix. Each 1 1/4 oz. packet is a single serving and these bear a relatively high price tag virtually everywhere I have found them (when they are not on sale). They tend to run approximately three for two dollars. For a single mug of cocoa, this is expensive when compared to other make-at-home products, but the Butterscotch & Chocolate is generally good enough to warrant the price tag!

Ease Of Preparation

The Cocoa Classics Butterscotch & Chocolate hot cocoa mix is very simple to make. The cocoa is rather enduring and the new packet I just bought did not expire until late 2016. Because it is sealed and has some artificial preservatives in is, this is likely to last virtually forever unopened. A single serving is the packet and six oz. of water. There is no measuring of the product involved!

As a result, preparation is ridiculously simple. The top of the envelope has a perforated edge and one need simply tear open the top, which is quite easy, and pour the contents of the packet into a mug that is at least eight ounces large. Then, simply pour hot water - near boiling, but not actually boiling as boiling water cooks the ingredients as opposed to simply dissolving them - over the powder and stir. Stir the powder until there are no blobs of chocolate powder visible in the water or giving resistance from the bottom. The beverage will have a light brown color to it and will be uniformly smooth and creamy.

Taste

Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics Butterscotch & Chocolate hot cocoa smells almost exclusively like butterscotch. The aroma is sweet, but not overwhelmingly so. The scent is muted as it is inhaled, so it starts like what one expects of butterscotch, but ends before it can fully reach its aromatic potential. It is an inviting scent, but not a completely true one.

On the tongue, the Butterscotch & Chocolate cocoa tastes sweet and buttery. The lightness of the flavor is not overbearing or lacking in substance; instead, it is a sweet, flavorful cocoa that accents the chocolate that finishes the palate. The flavor of chocolate manifests as a somewhat dry taste that cuts into the sweetness that erupts the moment this cocoa hits the tongue. This is a good flavor, but not the most robust one and certainly not the most balanced; those looking for a strong chocolate flavor will end up somewhat underwhelmed.

In addition to having a subtle taste, the cocoa has a slightly dry aftertaste to it that is distinctive to Butterscotch. This is not a terribly strong aftertaste and it does not endure for very long at all.

Nutrition

Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics is a hot cocoa mix and therefore not the most nutritious things ever, though the Butterscotch & Chocolate flavor could be far less nutritious than it is. While I am used to reviewing things like all natural teas where the ingredients are all easily pronounceable and recognizable, the Butterscotch & Chocolate hot cocoa has a few ingredients that cannot be easily identified. The primary ingredients are sugar, nonfat dry milk and whey. It is not vegan compliant as a result. Ironically, there is nothing called Butterscotch or Butterscotch flavoring in the ingredient list, so it is surprising that it replicates the flavor of butterscotch so well.

What is not a mystery is how high this product is in sugars. In each cup of Butterscotch & Chocolate Cocoa Classics, there are 140 calories, twenty-five of which are from fat. There are two and a half grams of saturated fat, so while one might be tempted to curl up and enjoy this while resting, they are likely to pay for it later on! While there is no cholesterol, nor any measurable amounts of trans fats, a consumer gets 11% of their recommended daily allowance of sodium out of a single packet of this beverage! There is a little protein, but not enough to live off this. In other words, this product is not a nutritious food product. But it is good!

This product contains soy and milk and because there are no notations on it, one must assume it is not Kosher or gluten-free.

Storage/Cleanup

So long as one leaves the Butterscotch & Chocolate Cocoa Classic powder in its packet, it ought to stay usable. One assumes it will last quite a while and dissolve appropriately when one attempts to use it. The packets, for those of us who consider the environmental impact of such things, are terribly wasteful and expensive. The foil/plastic wrappers are not recyclable anywhere I've been.

Cleanup is very easy. If the product spills while dumping it into the mug, simply wipe it up or brush it up with a dry or damp cloth. If it has already been reconstituted with water into hot cocoa, simply wipe it up. Light fabrics are likely to stain if this gets on them, in which case consult your fabric care guide to clean it up.

Overall

The Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics Butterscotch & Chocolate is good as an occasional treat, but is more average than it is exceptional. The result is a cocoa worth trying and even stocking up on, but not one one will find themselves craving it frequently at all.

For other Land O’ Lakes hot cocoa reviews, please check out:
Double Fudge & Chocolate Cocoa
Chocolate Graham Hot Cocoa
Classic Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa

5/10

For other beverage reviews, please visit my Food And Drink Review Index Page!

© 2014 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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It's Like Brownie Cocoa: Land O' Lakes Double Fudge & Chocolate Hot Cocoa Is Good!

The Good: Interesting flavor, Easy to prepare
The Bad: Environmental impact of packaging, Not the most incredible or distinct flavor in the line
The Basics: Lovers of Dark Chocolate will have finally found their drink with Land O' Lakes' Double Fudge & Chocolate hot cocoa; I know I have!


As part of my birthday celebration, my loving wife picked me up a number of beverage packets for enjoyment and review. She is such a sweetie! There are some food franchises where she has a pretty amazing run of good luck as far as picking things I review highly. Generally, the Land O’Lakes hot chocolates have fared well with me. So, it was a pretty safe bet when she picked up the Double Fudge & Chocolate cocoa she did for my birthday. I love really chocolatey beverages and this one seemed like it would certainly fit the bill.

Land O’Lakes could have gotten away with calling this “Brownie” or “Brownie Batter” at that is the exact flavor of this cocoa. It is good, clearly stronger than a milk chocolate flavor and well worth trying.

Basics

The Double Fudge & Chocolate hot cocoa mix is part of the Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics premium hot cocoa line. The mix comes in a 1 1/4 oz. sealed foil package and is a pretty delicious mix. Each 1 1/4 oz. packet is a single serving and these bear a relatively high price tag virtually everywhere I have found them of approximately three for two dollars. For a single mug of cocoa, this is expensive when compared to other make-at-home products, but about on par with getting a cocoa at a place like Caribou Coffee (reviewed here!).

Ease Of Preparation

The Cocoa Classics Double Fudge & Chocolate hot cocoa mix is ridiculously simple to make. Having been given a packet just yesterday, it is evident that this has a decent shelf life, as the expiration date recommended using the packet before February 22, 2014. Because it is sealed and has some artificial preservatives in is, this is likely to last virtually forever unopened. A single serving is the packet and six oz. of water. There is no measuring of the product involved!

As a result, preparation is ridiculously simple. The top of the envelope has a perforated edge and one need simply tear open the top, which is quite easy, and pour the contents of the packet into a mug that is at least eight ounces large. Then, simply pour hot water, near boiling, over the powder and stir. Stir the powder until there are no blobs of chocolate powder visible in the water nor resistance from the bottom. The beverage will have a dark brown color to it and will be uniformly smooth.

Taste

Double Fudge & Chocolate smells remarkably like baker’s chocolate, dark and rich. As the beverage cools, it begins to smell more like a batch of fresh-baked brownies.

In the mouth, the Double Fudge & Chocolate hot cocoa actually tastes like a hotter, more liquid version of brownie batter. The flavor is chocolate through and through with a strong, dry aftertaste that is reminiscent of dark chocolate. The flavoring is not at all thirst-quenching, but there are multiple layers of the chocolate flavor, making it credible that Land O’Lakes calls it Double Fudge AND Chocolate. The chocolate flavor is sublimated to the richer, darker flavor of the main fudge taste.

This cocoa does have an aftertaste as well and that is simply a dry flavor that fills the mouth.

Nutrition

Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics are hot cocoa mix and therefore not the most nutritious things in the known world, though the Double Fudge & Chocolate flavor could be far less nutritious than it is. Double Fudge & Chocolate hot cocoa has a few ingredients that cannot be easily identified. The primary ingredients are sugar, sweet dairy whey and cocoa. Because of the whey right at the top of the ingredient list, it is in no way vegan compliant.

And it is high in sugars. In each cup of Double Fudge & Chocolate Cocoa Classics, there are 130 calories, thirty of which are from fat. There are 2 grams of saturated fat, so while one might be tempted to curl up and enjoy this while resting, they are likely to pay for it later on! While there is no cholesterol, a consumer gets 10% of their recommended daily allowance of sodium out of a single packet of this beverage! There is a little protein, but not enough to live off this. In other words, this product is not a nutritious food product.

This product contains soy and milk and because there are no notations on it, one must assume it is not Kosher or gluten-free.

Storage/Cleanup

So long as one leaves the Double Fudge & Chocolate Cocoa Classic powder in its packet, it ought to stay usable. Given that it has an expiration date over a year and a half away, one assumes it will last quite a while and dissolve appropriately when one attempts to use it. The packets, for those of us who consider the environmental impact of such things, are terribly wasteful and expensive. The foil/plastic wrappers are not recyclable anywhere I've been.

Cleanup is very easy as well. If the product spills while dumping it into the mug, simply wipe it up or brush it up with a dry or damp cloth. If it has already been reconstituted with water into hot cocoa, simply wipe it up. Light fabrics are likely to stain if this gets on them, in which case consult your fabric care guide to clean it up.

Overall

Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics are expensive for what one gets, though the Double Fudge & Chocolate hot cocoa is worth every penny. This is the best chocolate flavored hot cocoa I have had and if Land O' Lakes ever repackages it outside the single serving envelopes, that would be a perfect product!

For other Land O' Lakes hot chocolate drinks, please visit my reviews of:
Chocolate Graham
Classic Dark
French Vanilla & Chocolate cocoa

7/10

For other food or drink reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics Chocolate Graham Is Surprisingly Good Hot Chocolate!

The Good: Great taste, Easy to prepare
The Bad: Very expensive in this form, Environmental impact of packaging
The Basics: One of the surprise flavors of hot cocoa from Land O' Lakes that is exceptionally good and worth buying is Chocolate Graham Hot Cocoa.


Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics makes pretty great - if expensive - hot cocoa. Many of their flavored hot cocoas live up to the basic flavors they claim to possess, but the expense of the cocoa or the environmental impact of the packaging makes it hard for me to recommend. But every now and then, I get surprised. Tonight, as my wife and I took in our new dog - Myah, who will be helping me review more dog products! - I was in the mood for a comfort food and I tried Land O' Lakes Chocolate Graham Hot Cocoa. And wow! Land O'Lakes truly comes through in this one!

Despite the lack of environmentalism of the packaging, this beverage is surprisingly good and very easy to recommend. True to the taste of graham crackers, the Land O' Lakes hot cocoa mix is worth buying as a very different treat.

Basics

The Chocolate Graham hot cocoa mix is part of the Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics premium hot cocoa line. The mix comes in a 1 1/4 oz. sealed foil package and is a pretty delicious mix. Each 1 1/4 oz. packet is a single serving and these bear a relatively high price tag virtually everywhere I have found them of approximately three for two dollars. For a single mug of cocoa, this is expensive when compared to other make-at-home products, but about on par with getting a cocoa at a place like Starbucks.

Ease Of Preparation

The Cocoa Classics Chocolate Graham hot cocoa mix is ridiculously simple to make. Having been given a packet last Christmas, it is evident that this has a decent shelf life, as the expiration date recommended using the packet by December, 2012. Because it is sealed and has some artificial preservatives in is, this is likely to last virtually forever unopened. A single serving is the packet and six oz. of water. There is no measuring of the product involved!

As a result, preparation is ridiculously simple. The top of the envelope has a perforated edge and one need simply tear open the top, which is quite easy, and pour the contents of the packet into a mug that is at least eight ounces large. Then, simply pour hot water - near boiling, but not actually boiling as boiling water cooks the ingredients as opposed to simply dissolving them - over the powder and stir. Stir the powder until there are no blobs of chocolate powder visible in the water or giving resistance from the bottom. The beverage will have a light brown color to it and will be uniformly smooth and creamy.


Taste

At first encounter, the Chocolate Graham cocoa impressed me from the first scent. The aroma of hone graham crackers with a hint of - of all things - coconut wafted up from my mug and I immediately began to salivate, which is odd because graham crackers have never truly impressed me all that much. But the scent - perhaps because of the weird milky hint of coconut in the bouquet - made me immediately thirsty and eager to try this hot chocolate.

Fortunately, the taste was spot on. First, Chocolate Graham cocoa does not skimp on the chocolate flavor. Instead, the first sip was richly chocolatey, though it was clearly a milk chocolate flavor Land O' Lakes was striving for (and achieved). On the first sip, the graham flavor was defined mostly by a dry aftertaste with the hint of honey. I was prepared to begin panning this flavor of cocoa until I kept drinking it. With the second sip, there was more of a cinnamon flavor overwhelming the chocolate that had defined the first taste. By the third sip, the dominant taste was that of hot honey, tasting and smelling just like a graham cracker.

As such, Chocolate Graham has one of the most flavorful and interesting flavors of any of the Land O' Lakes hot cocoas. The taste seems to oscillate wildly between chocolate, honey and cinnamon - though the chocolate never completely dominates the flavor again as it did on the first taste. The aftertaste is consistently dry and while the beverage is sweet, when the flavor is mostly cinnamon, that sweetness does not come through. With a flavor that is never sugary, the Chocolate Graham hot cocoa is not much of a thirst quencher, but it is always satisfying.

Nutrition

Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics are hot cocoa mix and therefore not the most nutritious things in the known world, though the Chocolate Graham flavor could be far less nutritious than it is. While I am used to reviewing things like all natural teas where the ingredients are all easily pronounceable and recognizable, the Chocolate Graham hot cocoa has a few ingredients that cannot be easily identified. The primary ingredients are sugar, nonfat dry milk and whey. It is not vegan compliant as a result. Ironically, the coconut I smelled is possibly from the coconut oil which is the fourth ingredient. There are no flavorings in the ingredient list that would define the beverage as graham cracker flavored!

What is not a mystery is how high this product is in sugars. In each cup of Chocolate Graham Cocoa Classics, there are 140 calories, thirty of which are from fat. There are 3.5 grams of saturated fat, so while one might be tempted to curl up and enjoy this while resting, they are likely to pay for it later on! While there is no cholesterol, a consumer gets 11% of their recommended daily allowance of salt out of a single packet of this beverage! There is a little protein, but not enough to live off this. In other words, this product is not a nutritious food product.

This product contains soy and milk and because there are no notations on it, one must assume it is not Kosher or gluten-free.

Storage/Cleanup

So long as one leaves the Chocolate Graham Cocoa Classic powder in its packet, it ought to stay usable. Given that it had an expiration date almost two years away, one assumes it will last quite a while and dissolve appropriately when one attempts to use it. The packets, for those of us who consider the environmental impact of such things, are terribly wasteful and expensive. The foil/plastic wrappers are not recyclable anywhere I've been.

Cleanup is very easy as well. If the product spills while dumping it into the mug, simply wipe it up or brush it up with a dry or damp cloth. If it has already been reconstituted with water into hot cocoa, simply wipe it up. Light fabrics are likely to stain if this gets on them, in which case consult your fabric care guide to clean it up.

Overall

Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics usually feel expensive to me, but with the Chocolate Graham flavor, I found a unique beverage that was a steal at the price. I've never had anything quite like this hot cocoa, but I know for sure that I enjoyed it enough to buy (or request it as a gift!) it again!

For other Land O' Lakes hot chocolate drinks, please visit my reviews of:
Classic Dark
French Vanilla & Chocolate cocoa
Arctic White

7.5/10

For other food or drink reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2011 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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Strong And Flavorful, All That Brings Down Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics Classic Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix Is The Packaging!

The Good: Great, distinctive taste, Easy to prepare
The Bad: Environmental impact of packaging
The Basics: Lovers of Dark Chocolate will have finally found their drink with Land O' Lakes' Classic Dark hot cocoa; I know I have!


One of these days, Land O' Lakes will get it perfect. Now, for the first time ever, I know when that will be. Land O' Lakes will have a perfect product when it makes a large canister of its Cocoa Classics Classic Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix. So, yes, for those of you who have absolutely no care for the environmental impact of such things, that means that Classic Dark is otherwise a perfect hot chocolate drink.

It is worth noting, though, that Classic Dark is not a thirst-quenching chocolate. This is understandable, just as one must hope that for a beverage claiming to embody the flavor of dark chocolate that it is not a terribly sweet drink. This is not, though around room temperature, the drink becomes less abrasive to the tastebuds and is more like what one might think of for an expensive hot chocolate beverage. But for the most part, Classic Dark is the dreams answered for many fans of dark chocolate who have been stuck drinking milk chocolate hot chocolate for years.

Basics

The Classic Dark hot cocoa mix is part of the Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics premium hot cocoa line. The mix comes in a 1 1/4 oz. sealed foil package and is a pretty delicious mix. Each 1 1/4 oz. packet is a single serving and these bear a relatively high price tag virtually everywhere I have found them of approximately three for two dollars. For a single mug of cocoa, this is expensive when compared to other make-at-home products, but about on par with getting a cocoa at a place like Caribou Coffee.

Ease Of Preparation

The Cocoa Classics Classic Dark hot cocoa mix is ridiculously simple to make. Having been given a packet for Christmas (see how far behind I am on getting to things around here to review?!), it is evident that this has a decent shelf life, as the expiration date recommended using the packet before March 12, 2012. Because it is sealed and has some artificial preservatives in is, this is likely to last virtually forever unopened. A single serving is the packet and six oz. of water. There is no measuring of the product involved!

As a result, preparation is ridiculously simple. The top of the envelope has a perforated edge and one need simply tear open the top, which is quite easy, and pour the contents of the packet into a mug that is at least eight ounces large. Then, simply pour hot water, near boiling, over the powder and stir. Stir the powder until there are no blobs of chocolate powder visible in the water nor resistance from the bottom. The beverage will have a dark brown color to it and will be uniformly smooth.

Taste

Classic Dark has a very distinctive aroma. That aroma is the precise scent of brownies made with baker's chocolate baking in the oven. The scent is rich and full and it opens the consumer's nostrils up. That smell is one that is unlike weaker milk chocolate hot chocolates. With those, one might doubt what they are about to drink. With Classic Dark; the scent is clear - you are about to drink something chocolate flavored!

And there it is. As the fluid washes over the tongue, there is the dry, bold flavor of dark chocolate. This is not a thirst quencher and it is not especially sweet. Instead, this is the cocoa for those who like coffee, but want a flavor that is good, not just overwhelmingly bold (this is what distinguishes it from the unpleasant taste of Ghirardelli's Mocha Chocolate hot chocolate, reviewed here!). Instead, this is a satisfying drink in that it is the closest to liquid dark chocolate I have tasted and it tastes like 60% dark chocolate, with a slightly sweeter taste coming as the beverage cools, but before it hits room temperature.

This cocoa does have an aftertaste as well and that is simply a dry flavor that fills the mouth.

Nutrition

Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics are hot cocoa mix and therefore not the most nutritious things in the known world, though the Classic Dark flavor could be far less nutritious than it is. Classic Dark hot cocoa has a few ingredients that cannot be easily identified. The primary ingredients are sugar, non-dairy creamer and cocoa. Because of the nonfat dry milk near the bottom of the ingredient list, it is not vegan compliant. Oddly, for a drink that is so dry and not sweet, sugar is the first ingredient.

And it is high in sugars. In each cup of Classic Dark Cocoa Classics, there are 140 calories, forty-five of which are from fat. There are 4 grams of saturated fat, so while one might be tempted to curl up and enjoy this while resting, they are likely to pay for it later on! While there is no cholesterol, a consumer gets 5% of their recommended daily allowance of salt out of a single packet of this beverage! There is a little protein, but not enough to live off this. In other words, this product is not a nutritious food product.

This product contains soy and milk and because there are no notations on it, one must assume it is not Kosher or gluten-free.

Storage/Cleanup

So long as one leaves the Classic Dark Cocoa Classic powder in its packet, it ought to stay usable. Given that it has an expiration date over a year away, one assumes it will last quite a while and dissolve appropriately when one attempts to use it. The packets, for those of us who consider the environmental impact of such things, are terribly wasteful and expensive. The foil/plastic wrappers are not recyclable anywhere I've been.

Cleanup is very easy as well. If the product spills while dumping it into the mug, simply wipe it up or brush it up with a dry or damp cloth. If it has already been reconstituted with water into hot cocoa, simply wipe it up. Light fabrics are likely to stain if this gets on them, in which case consult your fabric care guide to clean it up.

Overall

Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics are expensive for what one gets, though the Classic Dark hot cocoa is worth every penny. This is the best chocolate flavored hot cocoa I have had and if Land O' Lakes ever repackages it outside the single serving envelopes, that would be a perfect product!

For other Land O' Lakes hot chocolate drinks, please visit my reviews of:
French Vanilla & Chocolate cocoa
Arctic White
Raspberry And Chocolate Cocoa
Mint And Chocolate Cocoa
Land O'Lakes Chocolate Supreme
Land O' Lakes Chocolate & Caramel Cocoa

9/10

For other food or drink reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2011 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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Too Mild To Sell Itself To Me, Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics French Vanilla & Chocolate Fades.

The Good: Does not taste bad, Easy to prepare
The Bad: Very expensive in this form, Environmental impact of packaging, Not overly vanilla
The Basics: Any sense of French Vanilla is sublimated to the chocolate in Land O' Lakes' French Vanilla & Chocolate Hot Cocoa.


They can't all be winners. The truth is that ever company that makes a lot of different things - or a lot of variations on one thing - ends up with a dud from time to time. In the case of Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics, the first complete dud I have yet tried is their French Vanilla & Chocolate Hot Cocoa. Unlike their other cocoas, this does not even have a real hint of the promised flavor and the chocolate flavor that is embodied in it is so muted as to be almost unrecognizable.

Combined with the lack of environmentalism of the packaging, that sinks this beverage. It is not unpleasant to drink; it simply does not taste like either of the flavors it promises, ultimately disappointing the consumer.

Basics

The French Vanilla & Chocolate hot cocoa mix is part of the Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics premium hot cocoa line. The mix comes in a 1 1/4 oz. sealed foil package and is a pretty delicious mix. Each 1 1/4 oz. packet is a single serving and these bear a relatively high price tag virtually everywhere I have found them of approximately three for two dollars. For a single mug of cocoa, this is expensive when compared to other make-at-home products, but about on par with getting a cocoa at a place like Dunkin' Donuts.

Ease Of Preparation

The Cocoa Classics French Vanilla & Chocolate hot cocoa mix is ridiculously simple to make. Having been given a packet last week for my anniversary, it is evident that this has a decent shelf life, as the expiration date recommended using the packets (I had two) before April 6, 2013. Because it is sealed and has some artificial preservatives in is, this is likely to last virtually forever unopened. A single serving is the packet and six oz. of water. There is no measuring of the product involved!

As a result, preparation is ridiculously simple. The top of the envelope has a perforated edge and one need simply tear open the top, which is quite easy, and pour the contents of the packet into a mug that is at least eight ounces large. Then, simply pour hot water - near boiling, but not actually boiling as boiling water cooks the ingredients as opposed to simply dissolving them - over the powder and stir. Stir the powder until there are no blobs of chocolate powder visible in the water or giving resistance from the bottom. The beverage will have a light purple-brown color to it and will be uniformly smooth and creamy.


Taste

The aroma from the French Vanilla & Chocolate hot cocoa is actually strangely indistinct. It smells slightly of chocolate, but this has a strangely chemical smell to it that none of the other Land O' Lakes cocoas have had. Both mugs I tried had a slightly understated but sharp scent to it, that was not at all like vanilla, but not the chocolate flavor, either.

Sadly, this prepares the consumer for the taste of Land O' Lakes French Vanilla & Chocolate hot cocoa. The flavor is subtly chocolate with a creamy overtaste. It's like having a waxy chocolate with a milk chocolate center; the tongue gets coated with a bland, flavorless texture and that mutes the primary flavor. It is not truly a vanilla flavor, though. Instead, this is a chocolate that tastes more milky or diluted, making it just taste like weaker hot cocoa than anything truly French Vanilla.

Nutrition

Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics are hot cocoa mix and therefore not the most nutritious things in the known world, though the French Vanilla & Chocolate flavor could be far less nutritious than it is. While I am used to reviewing things like all natural teas where the ingredients are all easily pronounceable and recognizable, the French Vanilla & Chocolate hot cocoa has a few ingredients that cannot be easily identified. The primary ingredients are sugar, nonfat dry milk and whey. It is not vegan compliant as a result. Ironically, there is nothing even resembling vanilla or French Vanilla flavoring in the ingredient list, so it is little surprise that it is so un-French Vanilla flavored.

What is not a mystery is how high this product is in sugars. In each cup of French Vanilla & Chocolate Cocoa Classics, there are 140 calories, twenty-five of which are from fat. There are 2.5 grams of saturated fat, so while one might be tempted to curl up and enjoy this while resting, they are likely to pay for it later on! While there is no cholesterol, a consumer gets 11% of their recommended daily allowance of salt out of a single packet of this beverage! There is a little protein, but not enough to live off this. In other words, this product is not a nutritious food product.

This product contains soy and milk and because there are no notations on it, one must assume it is not Kosher or gluten-free.


Storage/Cleanup

So long as one leaves the French Vanilla & Chocolate Cocoa Classic powder in its packet, it ought to stay usable. Given that it has an expiration date almost two years away, one assumes it will last quite a while and dissolve appropriately when one attempts to use it. The packets, for those of us who consider the environmental impact of such things, are terribly wasteful and expensive. The foil/plastic wrappers are not recyclable anywhere I've been.

Cleanup is very easy as well. If the product spills while dumping it into the mug, simply wipe it up or brush it up with a dry or damp cloth. If it has already been reconstituted with water into hot cocoa, simply wipe it up. Light fabrics are likely to stain if this gets on them, in which case consult your fabric care guide to clean it up.


Overall

Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics are expensive for what one gets and the French Vanilla & Chocolate is a very average taste experience for that inflated price. That makes it remarkably easy to not recommend and it's a surprise to me that it was so far from the mark.

For other Land O' Lakes hot chocolate drinks, please visit my reviews of:
Arctic White
Raspberry And Chocolate Cocoa
Mint And Chocolate Cocoa
Land O'Lakes Chocolate Supreme
Land O' Lakes Chocolate & Caramel Cocoa


4.5/10

For other food or drink reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2011 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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Land O' Lakes Arctic White Hot Cocoa Mix Is A Surprisingly Delicious, Unsurprisingly Vague Hot Cocoa.

The Good: Tastes good, Easy to prepare
The Bad: Very expensive in this form, Environmental impact of packaging
The Basics: While Arctic White Cocoa Classics from Land O' Lakes taste wonderfully like white chocolate, but it is not the most robust flavor for a hot beverage.


For our 28 month anniversary, my wife showered me with food gifts, knowing full well that I would want to review them. The other day, I leapt out of my natural order of reviews to review the Godiva Dark Chocolate Mint Truffles she got me (that's here!). The night of our anniversary, we tried one of the other food gifts she got me, Arctic White hot cocoa from Land O’ Lakes. Being a real sweetheart, she got two packets for me; one for us to enjoy and one for me to review. I say it a lot these days, but my wife is adorable!

More than any other liquid white chocolate or vanilla drink I have had in recent years, Land O’ Lakes Arctic White hot cocoa stands out as a distinctive drink. For sure, white chocolate is a milder flavor, but the Arctic White seems to amp it up enough to make the beverage flavorful without being overbearing.

Basics

The Arctic White hot cocoa mix is part of the Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics premium hot cocoa line. The mix comes in a 1 1/4 oz. sealed foil package and is a pretty delicious mix. Each 1 1/4 oz. packet is a single serving and these bear a relatively high price tag at about a dollar each. For a single mug of cocoa, this is expensive when compared to other make-at-home products, but about on par with getting a cocoa at a place like Dunkin' Donuts.

Ease Of Preparation

The Cocoa Classics Arctic White hot cocoa mix is ridiculously simple to make. Having picked up a packet a few months ago (in 2011), this is a product to stock up on as the expiration date recommended using the packet before March 17, 2013. Because it is sealed and has some artificial preservatives in is, this is likely to last virtually forever unopened. A single serving is the packet and six oz. of water. There is no measuring of the product involved!

As a result, preparation is ridiculously simple. The top of the envelope has a perforated edge and one need simply tear open the top, which is quite easy, and pour the contents of the packet into a mug that is at least eight ounces large. Then, simply pour hot water - near boiling, but not actually boiling as boiling water cooks the ingredients as opposed to simply dissolving them - over the powder and stir. Stir the powder until there are no blobs of white powder visible in the water or giving resistance from the bottom. The beverage will have a creamy white color to it, as if one had just boiled up a cup of milk.

Taste

Land O' Lakes Arctic White smells like milk and vanilla as the steam wafts up out of the mug. For a beverage that is supposed to be white chocolate flavor, the scent when it is hot and fresh made is actually one of vanilla. It is surprisingly inviting and it is exciting to the senses, encouraging one to sip the drink.

On the tongue, Arctic White hot cocoa tastes like a Nestles white chocolate bar melted down and without and waxy sensation on the tongue. The beverage is smooth, creamy and very mild. The sweetness of Arctic White also enriches the flavor and the analogy to a melted Nestles bar is a good one; it cannot be understated how the flavor is identical, save the waxy quality mass-produced white chocolate usually has. This makes the drink satisfying and delicious and I'm not one who usually enjoys mild flavors like white chocolate. This is flavorful, but not overbearing and there is nothing bitter like dark chocolate to this. Instead, it is sweet, creamy and delicious.

Nutrition

Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics are hot cocoa mix and therefore not the most nutritious things in the known world, though the Arctic White flavor could be far less nutritious than it is. While I am used to reviewing things like all natural teas where the ingredients are all easily pronounceable and recognizable, the Arctic White hot cocoa has a few ingredients that cannot be easily identified. The primary ingredients are sugar, non-dairy creamer and corn syrup. It is not vegan compliant as a result. Ironically, there is no white chocolate or vanilla in the ingredients.

What is not a mystery is how high this product is in sugars. In each cup of Arctic White Cocoa Classics, there are 160 calories, fifty of which are from fat. There are five grams of saturated fat, so while one might be tempted to curl up and enjoy this while resting, they are likely to pay for it later on! While there is no cholesterol, a consumer gets 7% of their recommended daily allowance of salt out of a single packet of this beverage! There is a little protein, but not enough to live off this. In other words, this product is not a nutritious food product. But it is good!

This product contains soy and milk and because there are no notations on it, one must assume it is not Kosher or gluten-free.

Storage/Cleanup

So long as one leaves the Arctic White Cocoa Classic powder in its packet, it ought to stay usable. Given that it has an expiration date almost two years away, one assumes it will last quite a while and dissolve appropriately when one attempts to use it. The packets, for those of us who consider the environmental impact of such things, are terribly wasteful and expensive. The foil/plastic wrappers are not recyclable anywhere I've been.

Cleanup is very easy as well. If the product spills while dumping it into the mug, simply wipe it up or brush it up with a dry or damp cloth. If it has already been reconstituted with water into hot cocoa, simply wipe it up. Light fabrics might not even to stain if this gets on them, but you might want to consult your fabric care guide to clean it up, just in case.


Overall

As someone who loves deep, rich flavors, it might seem shocking that I would so heartily endorse Land O’ Lakes’ Arctic White hot cocoa. But for a creamy beverage when I want to relax, I think this might be my new standard. Rich chocolate flavors tend to energize me; this allowed me to feel the tension slip out of my body and the flavor was overall very soothing. That makes it worth recommending and trying, if not making a small stash of for the upcoming winter!

For other Land O' Lakes hot chocolate drinks, please visit my reviews of:
Raspberry And Chocolate Cocoa
Mint And Chocolate Cocoa
Land O'Lakes Chocolate Supreme
Land O' Lakes Chocolate & Caramel Cocoa

6.5/10

For other food or drink reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2011 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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Mildly Raspberry, Land O' Lakes Raspberry & Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix Is Overpriced.

The Good: Tastes good, Easy to prepare
The Bad: Very expensive in this form, Environmental impact of packaging, Not strongly raspberry.
The Basics: While Raspberry & Chocolate Cocoa Classics from Land O' Lakes taste wonderfully chocolatey, they do not live up to anything like a raspberry flavor.


One of the nice things about having a wife who loves trying new things - at least for a reviewer - is that I get to experience a number of new products pretty constantly. Because my wife enjoys finding new things she thinks I will enjoy, I benefit and my review volume stays pretty consistent and high. Because I travel so much, my wife tends to make me little care packages and she seems to miss me pretty constantly when I am not around. Recently, when we were in Michigan together, but she was off doing her own thing, she gave me a little cocoa care package featuring a favorite of mine, Mint & Chocolate Cocoa Classics hot cocoa mix (reviewed here!). She also picked up and included some Raspberry & Chocolate hot cocoa mixes because she is trying to get me to broaden my culinary horizons.

The thing with this flavor of Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics is that it is good . . . but it is not a great flavor that actually bears the strength of the fruit flavor that it claims to. As a result, it is far more average and the expense of the packets in this form drag it down into "not recommend" territory, which might seem like a surprise, but for the fact that I have standards I stand by and there are plenty of other flavors in this line that taste amazing and like what they claim to.

Basics

The Raspberry & Chocolate hot cocoa mix is part of the Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics premium hot cocoa line. The mix comes in a 1 1/4 oz. sealed foil package and is a pretty delicious mix. Each 1 1/4 oz. packet is a single serving and these bear a relatively high price tag virtually everywhere I have found them of approximately three for two dollars. For a single mug of cocoa, this is expensive when compared to other make-at-home products, but about on par with getting a cocoa at a place like Dunkin' Donuts.

Ease Of Preparation

The Cocoa Classics Raspberry & Chocolate hot cocoa mix is ridiculously simple to make. Having picked up a packet ten days ago (in 2011), this is a product to stock up on as the expiration date recommended using the packet before February 2013. Because it is sealed and has some artificial preservatives in is, this is likely to last virtually forever unopened. A single serving is the packet and six oz. of water. There is no measuring of the product involved!

As a result, preparation is ridiculously simple. The top of the envelope has a perforated edge and one need simply tear open the top, which is quite easy, and pour the contents of the packet into a mug that is at least eight ounces large. Then, simply pour hot water - near boiling, but not actually boiling as boiling water cooks the ingredients as opposed to simply dissolving them - over the powder and stir. Stir the powder until there are no blobs of chocolate powder visible in the water or giving resistance from the bottom. The beverage will have a light purple-brown color to it and will be uniformly smooth and creamy.

Taste

Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics Raspberry & Chocolate hot cocoa is an excellent idea that is executed with only middling success. While the expense might seem stifling, chocolate raspberry is an increasingly popular flavor that seems to be the focus of many premium products in both chocolate and hot chocolate. So far, it seems like Land O' Lakes has benefited by being the only fish in the sea in this way. The Raspberry & Chocolate hot cocoa immediately strikes the consumer with a scent that is richly chocolate and very much what one expects to smell from raspberries. It has the scent that is easily identifiable to anyone who likes shampoos, perfumes and skin care products intended to smell like raspberries (somewhat different from actual raspberries, but this is pretty much the industry standard). This immediately prepares the consumer for a taste experience that is richly raspberry.

And that is likely to leave the consumer disappointed the moment it cools enough to taste. The Raspberry & Chocolate hot cocoa is exceptionally weak in terms of raspberry flavor. In fact, it does not taste raspberry or even fruity at all. The taste is a smooth, chocolate flavor that has a very milky texture to it, especially as the beverage cools. The scent is overwhelmingly that of raspberries, but the taste is solely chocolate.

That said, the chocolate flavor is a good one for anyone who likes milk chocolate. The taste is light and chocolatey and hot this beverage is delicious . . . just not terribly raspberry flavored and as a result, it seems awfully expensive for a raspberry chocolate premium hot cocoa drink.

Nutrition

Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics are hot cocoa mix and therefore not the most nutritious things in the known world, though the Raspberry & Chocolate flavor could be far less nutritious than it is. While I am used to reviewing things like all natural teas where the ingredients are all easily pronounceable and recognizable, the Raspberry & Chocolate hot cocoa has a few ingredients that cannot be easily identified. The primary ingredients are sugar, nonfat dry milk and whey. It is not vegan compliant as a result. Ironically, there is nothing even resembling a raspberry or raspberry flavoring in the ingredient list, so it is little surprise that it is so un-raspberry flavored.

What is not a mystery is how high this product is in sugars. In each cup of Raspberry & Chocolate Cocoa Classics, there are 140 calories, thirty of which are from fat. There are three grams of saturated fat, so while one might be tempted to curl up and enjoy this while resting, they are likely to pay for it later on! While there is no cholesterol, a consumer gets 11% of their recommended daily allowance of salt out of a single packet of this beverage! There is a little protein, but not enough to live off this. In other words, this product is not a nutritious food product. But it is good!

This product contains soy and milk and because there are no notations on it, one must assume it is not Kosher or gluten-free.

Storage/Cleanup

So long as one leaves the Raspberry & Chocolate Cocoa Classic powder in its packet, it ought to stay usable. Given that it has an expiration date almost two years away, one assumes it will last quite a while and dissolve appropriately when one attempts to use it. The packets, for those of us who consider the environmental impact of such things, are terribly wasteful and expensive. The foil/plastic wrappers are not recyclable anywhere I've been.

Cleanup is very easy as well. If the product spills while dumping it into the mug, simply wipe it up or brush it up with a dry or damp cloth. If it has already been reconstituted with water into hot cocoa, simply wipe it up. Light fabrics are likely to stain if this gets on them, in which case consult your fabric care guide to clean it up.

Overall

Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics are expensive for what one gets and the Raspberry & Chocolate is delicious, but it fails to meet my most basic litmus test, which is "does it taste like what it claims to?" In this case, the answer is a resounding "no." It might be good, but for the expense, it is reasonable for consumers to expect better, more flavorful hot cocoa that actually tastes, not just smells, like raspberry.

For other hot chocolate drinks, please visit my reviews of:
Land O'Lakes Chocolate Supreme
Land O' Lakes Chocolate & Caramel Cocoa
Forrelli Rich Chocolate Hot Cocoa

4.5/10

For other food or drink reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2011, 2009 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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Is Chocolate Supreme Hot Cocoa Mix From Land O' Lakes The Ultimate Hot Chocolate Beverage? Not Quite.

The Good: Aroma, Taste
The Bad: Environmentally irresponsible packaging, Expense
The Basics: Very chocolatey, but not quite enough to satisfy a dark chocolate fan, Land O' Lakes' Chocolate Supreme hot cocoa mix is more average than extraordinary.


In a perfect world, hot chocolate would actually taste like chocolate and fans of darker chocolate would be easily satisfied by a real dark chocolate hot chocolate blend. I tend to forget that when people make claims about something being "more chocolatey" that they do not necessarily mean "darker" chocolate. I reference this at the outset of my review of the Land O Lakes Chocolate Supreme hot cocoa mix because if it were less expensive, this is more the flavor that ought to be the standard hot chocolate flavor. It is not a revelation of chocolate flavor that is likely to change minds and it is certainly not a supreme level of chocolate that will make dark chocolate lovers feel like they have found the drink of their dreams, but it is satisfying and it tastes good. And, for those who can afford it, Chocolate Supreme becomes the staple hot chocolate. But for the rest of us, it is an occasional treat and it is not an especially decadent one at that.

My wife bought me Chocolate Supreme hot cocoa for review for the winter holiday and I've been so backlogged on food and drink reviews that it was only this morning that I got around to trying it. My wife has been very supportive of my reviews in this way and provided me with the Land O Lakes Chocolate & Mint Cocoa (reviewed here!) and Chocolate & Caramel Cocoa (reviewed here!) before this! My expectations coming in were that this chocolate drink would be delicious and taste like dark chocolate. I was ready to be both stimulated and blown away. I was stimulated, but not overwhelmed with a sensational chocolate flavor that I felt I had to have again.

Basics

The Chocolate Supreme hot cocoa mix is part of the Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics premium hot cocoa line. The mix comes in a 1 1/4 oz. sealed foil package and come a dozen per box. Each 1 1/4 oz. packet is a single serving and these bear a relatively high price tag virtually everywhere I have found them. They tend to run approximately three for two dollars. This is expensive when compared to other make-at-home products, especially when compared to other basic hot cocoas.

Ease Of Preparation

The Cocoa Classics Chocolate Supreme hot cocoa mix is ridiculously simple to make. The cocoa is rather enduring and the packet my wife purchased for me in autumn of 2010 had an expiration date of January 27, 2013. Because each packet is individually sealed and has some artificial preservatives in is, this is likely to last virtually forever unopened. A single serving is the packet and six oz. of water. There is no measuring of the product involved!

As a result, preparation is ridiculously simple. The top of the envelope has a perforated edge and one need simply tear open the top, which is quite easy, and pour the contents of the packet into a mug that is at least eight ounces large. Then, simply pour hot water - near boiling, but not actually boiling as boiling water cooks the ingredients as opposed to simply dissolving them - over the powder and stir. Stir the powder until there are no blobs of chocolate powder visible in the water or giving resistance from the bottom. The beverage will have a light brown color to it and will be uniformly smooth and creamy.

Taste

Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics Chocolate Supreme hot cocoa has an appropriately strong chocolate scent to it, but there is something more to the aroma than just chocolate. In fact, when I first added the water to my packet of Chocolate Supreme, I was surprised by how familiar the scent was. Chocolate Supreme smells surprisingly like a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. There is an undertone in the bouquet of Chocolate Supreme of processed peanut butter. With that in mind, I took my first tastes of Chocolate Supreme hot cocoa.

The scent actually prepared me for one of the eccentricities of the Chocolate Supreme's taste, which was a dryness that I associate with peanut butter. Outside the dry aspect of the taste, Chocolate Supreme hot cocoa tastes almost exactly like warmed brownie batter. It has a distinctly chocolate flavor and it is delicious. But it is more like a concentrated milk chocolate than a dark chocolate, so instead of having a richer, deeper chocolate flavor, it tastes more like one is drinking more chocolate per sip. As a result, it is still a fairly mild chocolate flavor, at least for fans of dark chocolate.

Nutrition

Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics is a hot cocoa mix and therefore not the most nutritious things ever, though the Chocolate Supreme flavor could be far less nutritious than it is. While I am used to reviewing things like all natural teas where the ingredients are all easily pronounceable and recognizable, the Chocolate Supreme hot cocoa has a few ingredients that sound more like a chemistry experiment than a food product. The primary ingredients are sugar, nonfat dry milk and whey. It is not vegan compliant as a result. The chocolate flavor arguably comes from the Dutch-processed cocoa that is high up on the ingredients list.

Obviously, Chocolate Supreme is pretty high in sugars. In each cup of Chocolate Supreme Cocoa Classics, there are 140 calories, twenty-five of which are from fat. There are three grams of saturated fat, so while one might be tempted to curl up and enjoy this while resting, they are likely to pay for it later on! While there is no cholesterol, a consumer gets 11% of their recommended daily allowance of salt out of a single packet of this beverage! There is a little protein, but not enough to live off this. In other words, this product is not a nutritious food product. But it is good!

This product contains soy and milk and because there are no notations on it, one must assume it is not Kosher or gluten-free.

Storage/Cleanup

So long as one leaves the Chocolate Supreme Cocoa Classic powder in its packet, it ought to stay usable. One assumes it will last quite a while and dissolve appropriately when one attempts to use it. The packets, for those of us who consider the environmental impact of such things, are terribly wasteful and expensive. The foil/plastic wrappers are not recyclable anywhere I've been. In bulk, I tend to prefer canisters which reduce such waste, but this cocoa is not available in that form.

Cleanup is very easy. If the product spills while dumping it into the mug, simply wipe it up or brush it up with a dry or damp cloth. If it has already been reconstituted with water into hot cocoa, simply wipe it up. Light fabrics are likely to stain if this gets on them, in which case consult your fabric care guide to clean it up.

Overall

The Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics Chocolate Supreme is good and this is what chocolate flavor in a hot beverage ought to be, but it is too expensive to recommend as the staple tea. Instead, I suspect most consumers will take the minimal disappointment of slightly less chocolate flavor over the added expense of stocking up on this flavor cocoa.

For other hot chocolate mixes and hot beverages, please check out my reviews of:
Kahlua Mocha Coffee
Nestles Chocolate Mint Cocoa
Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows

5/10

For other food and beverage reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2011 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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Delicious And Expensive, Land O'Lakes Caramel & Chocolate Cocoa Is Worthwhile!

The Good: Great taste and aroma, Nothing truly bad in it!
The Bad: Very expensive in this form, Environmental impact of packaging
The Basics: Quite truly caramel flavored, down to the dry aftertaste of caramel, Caramel & Chocolate is a great hot cocoa mix.


As we enter winter, I find my beverage pleasures turning more from my usual teas to hot chocolate beverages. Hot cocoa has always been a comfort food for me and my wife seems to have picked up on that rather quickly. Frequently, when we go to the store to do our regular shopping, she will surprise me with a new brick of cheese or a box of cocoa that I have not yet tried. This week, it was the Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics Caramel & Chocolate.

My wife has been smarting in the cocoa selection department since I did not recommend the Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics Raspberry & Chocolate she purchased for me. So, when she surprised me with the Caramel & Chocolate hot cocoa, she did so with a defiant expression, as if daring me to not recommend this. Fortunately, I am not able to rise to her taunting; the Caramel & Chocolate hot coca is absolutely delicious.

Basics

The Caramel & Chocolate hot cocoa mix is part of the Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics premium hot cocoa line. The mix comes in a 1 1/4 oz. sealed foil package and is a pretty delicious mix. Each 1 1/4 oz. packet is a single serving and these bear a relatively high price tag virtually everywhere I have found them. They tend to run approximately three for two dollars. For a single mug of cocoa, this is expensive when compared to other make-at-home products, but the Caramel & Chocolate is about good enough to be worth it!

Ease Of Preparation

The Cocoa Classics Caramel & Chocolate hot cocoa mix is ridiculously simple to make. The cocoa is rather enduring and the new packet I just received did not even have an expiration date. Because it is sealed and has some artificial preservatives in is, this is likely to last virtually forever unopened. A single serving is the packet and six oz. of water. There is no measuring of the product involved!

As a result, preparation is ridiculously simple. The top of the envelope has a perforated edge and one need simply tear open the top, which is quite easy, and pour the contents of the packet into a mug that is at least eight ounces large. Then, simply pour hot water - near boiling, but not actually boiling as boiling water cooks the ingredients as opposed to simply dissolving them - over the powder and stir. Stir the powder until there are no blobs of chocolate powder visible in the water or giving resistance from the bottom. The beverage will have a light brown color to it and will be uniformly smooth and creamy.

Taste

Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics Caramel & Chocolate hot cocoa is an excellent idea and this is one that is executed remarkably well. First, when the beverage is properly prepared and hot, the steam bears an amazing sweet caramel scent that is dead-on. The cocoa smells a little chocolatey in addition to the caramel scent, but the caramel is dominant.

What the scent lacks in chocolate, it makes up for in the taste. The taste is a beautiful blend of chocolate and caramel. It opens with the taste that is very much the typical milk chocolate flavor of a hot cocoa. Just as one is prepared to be disappointed by how the drink smells delicious and of caramel, but does not taste like it, the dry taste of caramel hits the tastebuds. The sweetness of the cocoa overwhelms the tastebuds and what works so well about the Caramel & Chocolate cocoa is that it is not milky; the flavor is rich and chocolatey with a strong undertone of the caramel the name promises.

In addition to having a subtle taste, the cocoa has a very dry aftertaste to it that is distinctive to caramel. This is just as a premium cocoa ought to be in that it tastes exactly like what it claims to, though it is more biased toward the caramel flavor as opposed to the chocolate one.

Nutrition

Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics is a hot cocoa mix and therefore not the most nutritious things ever, though the Caramel & Chocolate flavor could be far less nutritious than it is. While I am used to reviewing things like all natural teas where the ingredients are all easily pronounceable and recognizable, the Caramel & Chocolate hot cocoa has a few ingredients that cannot be easily identified. The primary ingredients are sugar, nonfat dry milk and whey. It is not vegan compliant as a result. Ironically, there is nothing even resembling caramel or caramel flavoring in the ingredient list, so it is surprising that it is so perfectly caramel flavored.

What is not a mystery is how high this product is in sugars. In each cup of Caramel & Chocolate Cocoa Classics, there are 140 calories, thirty of which are from fat. There are three grams of saturated fat, so while one might be tempted to curl up and enjoy this while resting, they are likely to pay for it later on! While there is no cholesterol, a consumer gets 11% of their recommended daily allowance of salt out of a single packet of this beverage! There is a little protein, but not enough to live off this. In other words, this product is not a nutritious food product. But it is good!

This product contains soy and milk and because there are no notations on it, one must assume it is not Kosher or gluten-free.

Storage/Cleanup

So long as one leaves the Caramel & Chocolate Cocoa Classic powder in its packet, it ought to stay usable. One assumes it will last quite a while and dissolve appropriately when one attempts to use it. The packets, for those of us who consider the environmental impact of such things, are terribly wasteful and expensive. The foil/plastic wrappers are not recyclable anywhere I've been.

Cleanup is very easy. If the product spills while dumping it into the mug, simply wipe it up or brush it up with a dry or damp cloth. If it has already been reconstituted with water into hot cocoa, simply wipe it up. Light fabrics are likely to stain if this gets on them, in which case consult your fabric care guide to clean it up.

Overall

The Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics Caramel & Chocolate is absolutely delicious, but it is stifling in its price by the single packet. This is best as an occasional treat as opposed to a regular cocoa beverage.

For other hot cocoa reviews, please check out:
Land O' Lakes Chocolate & Mint Cocoa
Nestles Caramel Hot Cocoa
Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate With Marshmallows

5.5/10

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© 2010, 2009 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.





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