People Are Just Discovering Hot Chocolate Is Not The Same As Hot Cocoa

So, it turns out that hot chocolate and hot cocoa are totally different drinks and we had absolutely no idea.

If you're like us, then you've been mindlessly mixing up the two delicious dessert drinks for the longest time.

But after learning the difference for ourselves, we're here to put an end to the confusion.

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While hot cocoa is made from cocoa powder, milk, and sugar, hot chocolate is a thicker consistency made from melted chocolate and hot water or milk.

Make sense? Here's the breakdown.

Hot Cocoa

Essentially, when you make it from home or order it your local coffee shop, you're most likely drinking hot cocoa.

According the The Huffington Post, The cocoa powder, which comes from roasted cocoa beans, is usually mixed with some additional sugars or preservatives and tends to come in a tin or a packet, ready to mix with boiling water or hot milk.

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Hot Chocolate

Hot Chocolate, on the other hand, is a little bit more luxurious.

You might have made it at home if you've ever picked up solid milk chocolate spoons, bars, or buttons that need only be dunked into a large mug of piping hot milk and swirled around until fully melted.

Compared to hot cocoa, which often packed full of artificial sugars to achieve its sweet taste, hot chocolate contains naturally occurring sugar, according to Masterclass.

Other versions of the drink often replace milk with heavy cream, making for an even thicker consistency.

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While hot chocolate is likely the more flavourful drink, some might find it a little bit too rich and chocolatey.

So which is better?

Well that's all depending on your personal taste. If want a drink that tastes like drinking pure chocolate, go for the hot chocolate. But if you want a sweeter, lighter beverage, then we'd recommend a hot cocoa.

But whichever you go for, make sure to top it off with a mountain of marshmallows, cream, and cocoa powder. Absolutely essential, if you ask us.