Choceur Limited Edition Hot Cocoa Instant Drink Mix

We’ve noticed that Aldi has started a line of products it calls its “Limited Edition” collection, a range of Seasonal Items across its brands for the holidays. We’ve already looked at a couple of these items, including Nature’s Nectar Limited Edition Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Juice, which we liked a lot. Here we’re gravitating toward the other side of the drink temperature spectrum.

Choceur Limited Edition Hot Cocoa Instant Drink Mix is one of a few different hot cocoa mixes we’ve seen hit Aldi stores around the holidays. Some of them come in Keurig-style cups, but for this review we decided to look at the more traditional cocoa packets. These boxes run $1.29 and contain 10 envelopes, which means you can get your cocoa fix from Aldi for just under 13 cents a cup. The Choceur hot cocoas come in either traditional or with mini marshmallows; we decided to test drive the traditional stuff.

Heating up hot chocolate isn’t rocket science, but if you’re looking to use this box as your guide, you might be a little confused. Here’s why: the instructions on the pouches are slightly different than the instructions on the box. Not by a lot, but enough that you might wonder which to do. The conventional instructions for both are the same: empty the envelope into a cup or mug, then add 6 fluid ounces of hot water, then stir until fully dissolved.

The microwave directions, though, are a little different.

• On the box, they call for heating 6 fluid ounces of water or milk for about 1 minute in a microwave safe-container, then emptying the envelope into a different cup or mug and finally adding the fluid from the first container and stirring until fully dissolved.
• On the envelope, however, you’re supposed to heat 6 fluid ounces of water for 1 1/2 minutes, then empty the envelope into a separate cup and stir in the hot water.

One of the envelopes. (Click to enlarge.)

Here’s what we suggest: microwave your 6 fluid ounces of liquid (we recommend milk but use water if you prefer) for 1 1/2 minutes, then combine the envelope with the hot liquid. (In our experience 1 1/2 minutes isn’t usually too hot, but since microwaves differ, be careful not to burn yourself just the same.) You can use two mugs if you want to, like the instructions say, but most mugs are big enough to handle all of it if you’re careful, so we just heat the milk and then carefully stir in the envelope.

That all aside, this cocoa tastes good. It’s sweet, rich, and everything else we like in our cocoa. It goes especially well with a spoonful of whipped cream, but even by itself it’s a winner.

The back of the box. Click to enlarge.

The Verdict:

For that steaming cup of cocoa in the winter months, you can do pretty well by Aldi. The Choceur Hot Cocoa tastes good and is just 13 cents a cup. Just be aware that — with the lot we got, at least — the directions on the box and on the envelopes are a little different. Follow our recommendations above and we think you’ll be fine.