Hot chocolate stations

Yes, I'm sorry if I sounded judgemental. I hope you enjoy your velvetiser Doodledog.

A bit of what you fancy does you good! At least that's what an elderly relative said to me. I just don't have a sweet tooth anymore.

The instant ones will have milk powder added (the water is just to hydrate it), so the non 'diet' ones will be high in fat, too.

The thing is, chocolate is not intended as a health food?. It is a high fat, sweet food, which a lot of people enjoy, and I'm sure we all know that.

It is so wearing when everything that gives pleasure is accompanied by a lecture on how bad it is, as though we are children, rather than 'ladies of a certain age'. By this time of life, most of us will be firmly in one camp or another - the 'no treats' camp, the 'bring it on, I'm going to enjoy life' camp, or the 'all things in moderation' one, and no amount of dark warnings about fat or sugar content will shift us.

I make no apology for enjoying my velvetiser, unnecessary as it is, and as unhealthy are the drinks it produces?. I use it when friends come over as an alternative option to tea or coffee, and it is very popular - I always have to check that I have enough milk in before offering, as most people choose the chocolate.

Possibly the instant packets that you mix with water rather than milk aren't quite so bad, but much as I love hot chocolate the scales will be even more unkind to me than they already are if I indulge.

It’s fairly obvious that the sugar and fat content will be high, so I’m guessing that the majority of posters won’t be drinking three cups a day.

Those with health conditions will, presumably, be aware that these are not everyday indulgences, but as an occasional treat they are delicious, and can be made with skimmed or plant milks if preferred.

I had not even heard of a Velvetiser before reading this thread, but I have a low carb diet and don't want to get Pre Diabetic again (or even diabetic) so I won't be doing this. Sugar is extremely bad for the immune system, so I'm being careful.

I am curious to know what the fat content in those hot chocolate drinks is? As someone who needs to lose weight and get more healthy, I will avoid- but am fascinated.

Gingster

I’ve asked for a Velvetiser from Santa. I had one at a friends and it was the most delicious hot chocolate I’ve had. Can’t wait for mine ?. Mmmm

I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine ?.

Pendragon Drinks do a great range of real hot chocolate (as opposed to the powders) that work out cheaper than Hotel Chocolat ones, and are just as good, IMO.

Lizzie72

This is an American ‘thing’ - many homes have them all year round, then they are decorated seasonally (Christmas, Halloween, etc.). It’s not just one electrical item - it’s a mini drinks kitchen…..

Well, if you have an American sized kitchen to go with it I suppose....It explains where the preoccupation with sugary drinks comes from as well!

If you have kids or a sweet tooth this would mean endless dipping into sneaky sugary snacks!

JaneJudge

You shouldn't drink hot chocolate at bed time as it makes you wet the bed

LOL

I wouldn't drink it at bedtime or the sugar would make my restless legs even worse!

Hot Chocolate stations! I ask you. Marshmallows and sugar and, and, and .... more sugar. But as long as you can post it on Face book and Instagram who cares, right?

I will not be making a hot chocolate station. I'm not a fan of drinking my calories. I prefer to eat them Ha. Ha.

grannyactivist

Many, many years ago, on a very cold winter’s night, I found myself alone at the bus station in Salisbury, with a very long wait ahead of me after missing my bus. I counted out the (literal) pennies in my purse and discovered I had just enough money for a mug of Horlicks.

The little cafe was warm and steamy, an oasis from the bitter cold outside. The woman who served me warmed the mug by putting some boiling water in it while she heated the milk and Horlicks powder in a jug - she used a frother and I’d never seen one before so I was fascinated.

That was, to this very day, the most memorable drink I’ve ever had. And that’s why Horlicks is still my favourite night-time drink. ?

I love that drink too. Takes me back to childhood. I still buy it today.

I’ve asked for a Velvetiser from Santa. I had one at a friends and it was the most delicious hot chocolate I’ve had. Can’t wait for mine ?. Mmmm

JaneJudge

I am going to have to get rid of the dandelion station I have on the landing, I had no idea

Many, many years ago, on a very cold winter’s night, I found myself alone at the bus station in Salisbury, with a very long wait ahead of me after missing my bus. I counted out the (literal) pennies in my purse and discovered I had just enough money for a mug of Horlicks.

The little cafe was warm and steamy, an oasis from the bitter cold outside. The woman who served me warmed the mug by putting some boiling water in it while she heated the milk and Horlicks powder in a jug - she used a frother and I’d never seen one before so I was fascinated.

That was, to this very day, the most memorable drink I’ve ever had. And that’s why Horlicks is still my favourite night-time drink. ?

Doodledog

Forsythia

This is something new to me. I don’t know what a velvetiser is. I just use half milk half water and Cadbury’s drinking chocolate or for quickness Options. I do buy mini marshmallows but I’m a bit naughty and eat them all ?

A velvetiser is a machine that makes hot chocolate. You just add milk and flaked chocolate (you could use powder, but it's really not the same) and it stirs it as it heats so the drink is smooth and you get froth on the top. It tastes a million times nicer than instant chocolate, and is less faffy than whisking chocolate in a milk pan.

They are not a necessity by any stretch of the imagination, but if you drink a lot of hot chocolate they are nice to have. I don't think they are particularly American, but I could be wrong there.

Thank you for the explanation. X

Beswitched

Do any of you drink cocoa. I use it for baking but have never taken to it as a drink.

We have had a mug of proper cocoa in the evening for years, made with skimmed milk and one sweetener tablet, no sugar. I make it quite strong.

I read somewhere ages ago that cocoa was good for the heart, ❤️ don’t know if that is correct, but it fulfils a ‘chocolate’ need for me.

Forsythia

This is something new to me. I don’t know what a velvetiser is. I just use half milk half water and Cadbury’s drinking chocolate or for quickness Options. I do buy mini marshmallows but I’m a bit naughty and eat them all ?

A velvetiser is a machine that makes hot chocolate. You just add milk and flaked chocolate (you could use powder, but it's really not the same) and it stirs it as it heats so the drink is smooth and you get froth on the top. It tastes a million times nicer than instant chocolate, and is less faffy than whisking chocolate in a milk pan.

They are not a necessity by any stretch of the imagination, but if you drink a lot of hot chocolate they are nice to have. I don't think they are particularly American, but I could be wrong there.

This is something new to me. I don’t know what a velvetiser is. I just use half milk half water and Cadbury’s drinking chocolate or for quickness Options. I do buy mini marshmallows but I’m a bit naughty and eat them all ?

Lizzie72

This is an American ‘thing’ - many homes have them all year round, then they are decorated seasonally (Christmas, Halloween, etc.). It’s not just one electrical item - it’s a mini drinks kitchen…..

I think that's the thing. Different cultures and different families have their own traditions and customs.

But nowadays some people seem to grab at every tradition, photos go up on social media, the marketing men see an opportunity to make money and what started as simple traditions become generic money spinners.

The shops nowadays are full of custom made Christmas Eve boxes, special Christmas pyjamas etc etc and many parents of young children feel pressured into getting all this stuff.

It just feels as if lovely customs and traditions are becoming increasingly commercialised and are losing their original meaning.

SpringyChicken, I reserve the spoon for finishing off every jar of Nutella I buy when Gdcs are coming to stay (Nutella pancakes for breakfast).
But I do buy the smallest jar. I can blame dh for once buying a whopper - it’s not as if he ever eats it, either!

Can't we just use a spoon?

Beswitched

Do you add sugar to cocoa?

I do, just under a flat tsp.
TBH I find most hot chocolate over-sweet, if it’s chocolate-y enough.

Best hot chocolate I’ve ever had was from the Edinburgh Harvey Nicks. There’s a chocolate bar, with a conveyor belt on which are wee bowls of goodies like chocolate drops, mini marshmallows, etc., plus individual portions of various cakes. You help yourself to whatever you want as the belt comes round, the actual hot choc is made by staff obviously. Not cheap, but definitely worth the money.
That would have been four years ago and COVID has probably made them change the system unfortunately.

No. Drinking chocolate already has sugar in but when I use cocoa, it’s just powder and milk.

Do you add sugar to your cocoa?

Can’t have any of these newfangled things-they increase my carbon footprint and trying chocolate mixed with oat or almond milk was not delicious. Must be made with hot milk for a good night’s sleep..

Do you add sugar to cocoa?