A Guide to Hot Chocolate in Toronto
It’s no secret that I like hot chocolate. I’ve said to people, on more than one occasion, that it’s my elixir of love. I find nothing more comforting than a good cup of cocoa. I’ve been privileged to travel in my life and have amazing hot chocolates in places like Belgium, Portugal, Peru, and New Zealand (where the highlight was getting asked if I wanted a cup or a bowl of hot chocolate like it is was a soup, AKA the best soup ever). Today though, I’m going to highlight some places to get awesome hot chocolate right here in Toronto.
Delight Organic Fair Trade Chocolate: This is a Junction locale that does a ganache based hot chocolate. It’s rich and smooth. Their traditional is delightful, but they also offer some flavoured ones including occasional seasonal/specialty flavours. They also sell the hot chocolate in 500ml and 1L take home jars. Located at 3030 Dundas St W.
Soma: I’m a sucker for their Maya mix. Pre-pandemic if I found myself with time to kill, an extra $5 in my pocket, and a hankering for cocoa (which was more likely than not), I would find myself at the King St. location grabbing a cup of the Maya (occasionally Dark Side of the Mug) and sitting at their window counter to enjoy my drink while reading or writing. Their drinking chocolates are also sold in a variety of make-at-home sizes. Three Locations: 443 King St W., 77 Brock Ave., and 32 Tank House Lane.
Mary’s Brigadeiro: Currently only available as a make-at-home tin, this is a powdered mix that is by far the richest, and easiest to make, of the take home. I just stir the mix into milk heated up in my frothier and I have a perfectly luxurious cocoa. Located at 1912 Danforth Ave.
Laura Slack: Laura Slack’s Drink of the Gods, sold out of Maisonette in the Distillery District in Toronto, is my all-time favourite. No Christmas Market is complete without getting the paper shot glass of the liquid chocolate elixir. They sell take-home bags and tins of the mix as well. As I write this, it’s not available on the website, but I’ve previously been able to purchase it in-store even when the website doesn’t have it listed. Located at 12 Tank House Lane.
Lindt: Most people didn’t realize this, but a number of the Lindt stores also make hot chocolates. Pre-pandemic, if you ordered a dark, semi-dark, or milk, the base would come from liquid chocolate from an ever-flowing fountain (very Wonka). But post-pandemic, they use chocolate pellets/wafers instead. It doesn’t taste as rich as result, but they do offer a punch card, so after you buy 7, you get one free. (Check your Lindt location offers beverage service first).
Bobette and Belle: The hot chocolate is good, but this one is really about the toasted marshmallow. They have two Toronto locations: 3347 Yonge St. and 1121 Queen St East.
Maman: They are one of the few places you can enjoy a lavender hot chocolate. If you can’t sit around to enjoy your beverage, their to-go cups are also works of art. Located at 100 King St. West (it’s part of First Canadian Place, so it’s not the easiest to find the first time, but worth it if you like lavender with your chocolate).
