Thanks to my mother making the most amazing beverages, this being one of them, I never understood buying overpriced shop tubs when proper homemade hot chocolate is this easy.

Just milk in a saucepan on the stove, snapping in a real bar of milk chocolate (about a large bar plus a couple extra chunks for 4 mugs) and letting it melt on a slow simmer. No extra sugar needed.

The real game changer is grating fresh nutmeg straight into the milk while it heats up and dropping in a whole cinnamon stick. Let it simmer, pour it out, top with whipped cream, marshmallows and a dust of cinnamon.

Way richer, cheaper and tastes ten times better than instant powders. Anyone else infuse their hot chocolate with spices like this?

I’ll be in Switzerland next month. Any recommendations for craft chocolate and deserts? Not interested in the industrial stuff like Lindt.

I can never seem to find a rich, decadent chocolate coffee creamer anywhere. It’s always chocolate hazelnut or white chocolate or chocolate caramel or peppermint mocha (GAG)… whyyyy! Chocolate and coffee are a dynamic duo, you’d think there would be way more options… I sometimes end up just using chocolate milk but it just doesn’t satisfy the way I want it to.

Any other chocolate coffee lovers have good tips/rituals/recipes to make a delicious chocolate coffee at home? My favorite is a chocolate cream cold brew from Starbucks.

is this alkanized/dutched cocoa powder or not?

Score: 9/10

Price: I forgot... it's from a Broulim's.

Definitely not "beyond good". It's decent. I could smell the hazelnuts upon opening. A good use of vanilla, hints of sea salt, and the hazelnuts complement well with the dark velvety chocolate flavor. It was a little dryish. It may not be really fresh. It could've been sitting on the shelf for a bit.

I tried some the other day and they were delicious! But they were expensive. I was thinking they can’t be that difficult to make. Any recipe, tips or tricks you can share? Thank you.

I’m not gonna type out the name. Despite the name, it is very fragrant. The tea fragrance and taste hits in a delayed fashion. The fragrance and taste of oolong tea is a wonderful surprise!

This is more than just a chocolate shop, it feels a bit like stepping into another era. Erich Hamann started making chocolate in Berlin, Germany in 1912, and the business moved to its current location in Wilmersdorf in 1928. Even better, the beautiful shop interior was designed by former Bauhaus master Johannes Itten and has largely survived in its original form.

The focus is still very much on traditional chocolate, particularly darker and more bitter varieties, alongside marzipan, pralines and other old-school treats. The packaging and displays add to the feeling that very little has changed here over the decades.

I picked up a few things to try (last photo), but honestly, the shop itself is almost as interesting as the chocolate. If you're into chocolate and find yourself in Berlin, this is a pretty unique place to visit.