A Chocolate Odyssey

With the winter season upon us, a cup of hot chocolate is a favorite way to warm up from the biting cold outdoors, soothe the soul, and satisfy a sweet tooth. The town of Princeton offers various places to indulge in this comforting beverage, but how do the choices compare? I embarked on a quest to find out.

At the Lindt Store, a customer may choose from around ten flavors of gourmet hot chocolate, each one composed of melted Lindt truffles in lukewarm whole milk. I had the pleasure of sampling the classic milk chocolate, as well as the dark chocolate, flavors. They both have a silky, rich texture and one can taste the truffles with each sip. However, I felt that the milk toned down the taste of the chocolate way too much, especially in the milk chocolate sample where I almost felt as if I were drinking pure milk. I definitely would have preferred a higher strength of chocolate flavor for a perfect cup.

Although the establishment is best known for its ice cream, Halo Pub sells a satisfying “Hot Chocolate de Paris.” The beverage is served at a scalding temperature (I burnt my tongue the first time I tried it!), and is meant to be enjoyed slowly as it cools. A frothy, milky layer rests at the top, and all throughout, the sweetness is just right; not too sweet, but not bitter. With a consistency neither heavy nor creamy, it makes for a light post-dinner indulgence and the perfect accompaniment to a pastry. Also, its price is unbeatable at just $1.65. Nonetheless, I would describe the taste as fairly common and not much better than the hot cocoa one could prepare from a store-bought packet at home.

Chez Alice Gourmet Bakery offers a hot chocolate reminiscent of that served by Halo Pub. The drink is once again pretty ordinary and one that can be replicated at home, but comforting. Its chocolate flavor is of a relatively low strength and the consistency of the beverage is non-thick, even somewhat dilute.  It is pleasing for customers who prefer sugary beverages, because I found its taste to be sweeter than other samples.

With intense hues of dark chocolate that result in slight bitterness, the hot chocolate offered at the Small World Coffee is for those with a more sophisticated taste palette and probably would not be appreciated by young children. The intensity of the chocolate can be seen in the color of the liquid itself, darker than most.  Furthermore, the cocoa powder is perfectly blended throughout for an enjoyably smooth, non-grainy texture.  Although a customer pays a little more here ($3.50 for a small hot chocolate), Small World Coffee is personally my favorite hot chocolate venue in Princeton.

At the Bent Spoon, one will find a hot chocolate unlike any other in Princeton. Made with 60% cocoa, the beverage here certainly does not skimp on chocolate flavor. Each sip is luxuriously thick, somewhat bitter, and much like a melted bar of pure chocolate. One time, I purchased a cup of hot chocolate here and ended up taking it home, for the whole thing was too rich to finish in one sitting. When I woke up the next morning, it had hardened into a layer of solid chocolate! In order to truly indulge in this beverage, one must come with an empty stomach and sharp chocolate cravings, and must take the time to savor it gradually.

These are just a few of the many hot chocolate venues in Princeton, on top of the more commercial places like Starbucks and Panera Bread. A Princetonian has a plethora of options when it comes to enjoying a cup of hot cocoa this winter. Begin an adventure to find your favorite!