Today's hot chocolates are a world away from the stuff you used to drink as a child - rich, thick, full-flavoured and made from the finest quality chocolate. Here are some of our favourites, which we'd recommend stocking up on as the nights draw in.
Montezuma's
Montezuma's Ginger and Orange Drinking Chocolate is the company's limited edition drinking chocolate this Christmas, with warming notes of ginger for a lovely seasonal taste. £6.99 for 250g (www.montezumas.co.uk)
Bettys
Bettys Hot Chocolate in a Mug makes the perfect present for someone with a sweet tooth. The award-winning blend is infused with Madagascan vanilla, to offset the delicious depth of the Swiss dark chocolate. £15 for 190g, plus a cream Leedsware mug (www.bettys.co.uk)
Charbonnel & Walker
Charbonnel & Walker's 70% Dark Drinking Chocolate is one for the grown-ups, whisked into milk and topped with cream and a dusting of cocoa powder. £8 for 300g (www.charbonnel.co.uk)
Paul Young
Paul A. Young's Aztec Hot Chocolate Spiced has hints of cinamon, cardamom and nutmig. It's so rich that it doesn't need milk - just hot water to really bring out the flavours of the 70% chocolate chunks. £12.50 per bag from Paul A. Young's London boutiques (www.paulayoung.co.uk)
Hans Sloane
Hans Sloane Drinking Chocolates have won all sorts of awards, for good reason: the beads melt beautifully into hot milk, creating a deliciously rich and thick drink. Try the Ecuador 70% blend, with hints of licorice and banana. From £4.49 per box (www.sirhanssloane.com)
Sumptuous Christmas gifts for foodies, from a chocolate library to a £6,000 hamper
After something special for a person who really appreciates their food? Our suggestions are certain to have something that's just
Christmas gifts for ladies to inspire, delight and entertain
From £50 to £1,280, we've selected some lovely items to help you find the perfect present.
Christmas gifts for men, from beautiful boxers to a classic cocktail shaker
For the man in your life, we've all sorts of things – from simple gadgets to truly magnificent things.
Christmas gifts for nature and garden lovers
-
Everything you need to know about private jet travel and 10 rules to fly byDespite the monetary and environmental cost, the UK can now claim to be the private jet capital of Europe.
-
'I'd willingly give a year of my life for a fortnight there': The green dream that is the garden of DerreenExotic woods, labyrinths of narrow, mossy paths and thousands of tree ferns make this an internationally important garden, writes Charles Quest-Ritson. Photographs by Jonathan Hession.
