I may be in the minority here, but I truly enjoy the rain. The light kind of rain that makes the air a little colder, the surroundings a little gloomier with noises like leaves tapping on windows. To me, it gives a sense of comfort and leaves me wanting to stay in, curl up with my favorite blanket, and put on some relaxing music. I’m pretty sure you feel the same and to make things more homey and toasty, why not add a cup of hot chocolate?
We’ve listed down a few favorites-slash-staples and we’re gladly sharing it with you, just scroll and get sipping.
Xocolat’s Taza de Xocolat
A running joke among students and residents in Katipunan is the number of restaurants that open and close each year. One of the few survivors is a quaint little restaurant called Xocolat. As you may have guessed, their specialty is chocolate and it is demonstrated in the Taza de Xocolat option. It’s a thick but creamy take on the classic hot chocolate, and perfectly balances the bitter and sweet tastes—the perfect comfort food for those rainy nights. For a complete list of branches and more information, visit their Facebook page.
Tim Hortons’ Hot Chocolate
We’re glad Tim Hortons brought in their decadent hot chocolate when they arrived in Manila. It’s a smooth and sweet little number, fairly simple, but still packed with flavor. The other great thing about this option is that Tim Horton’s made it available in a canister that you can take home. So, if you don’t live near any of their branches or if you’re just craving hot chocolate for no reason, you can easily make some in the comforts of your own home. For a complete list of branches and more information, visit their Facebook page.
Costa Coffee’s Hot White Chocolate
Costa Coffee’s hot white chocolate is one of the most popular options in the café’s home country, United Kingdom. It’s actually so popular that when the store pulled out the option from their Christmas menu, the backlash made headlines. Though the version we have now has no cherry sauce (let’s pray we get it in December!), it still has that warmth and sweetness you look for on gloomy days. For a complete list of branches and more information, visit their Facebook page.
Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf’s Mexican Spice Hot Chocolate
Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is perfect for anyone going through the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but is also perfect for laidback days especially with the addition of their new line of drinks. The Mexican Spice hot chocolate is not your usual chocolate concoction because it comes with a kick of cinnamon. The smell alone can leave you craving for days. Bonus: You can also order this flavor with a shot of coffee or ice blended. For a complete list of branches and more information, visit their Facebook page.
Cafe Mary Grace’s Hot Chocolate
Don’t be fooled by the cute cup that it comes in because it’s actually packed with rich chocolate that has the right amount of sweetness. It reminds me of tablea hot chocolate that we would enjoy when we were kids. And the best part is that you can totally enjoy it with their grilled ensaymada. For a complete list of branches and more information, visit their Facebook page.
Additional text by Jacque De Borja
Art and illustration by Jonah Velasquez
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