I found the Bellagio Raspberry Parfait Gourmet Hot Cocoa mix at my local specialty chocolate shop. The primary reason that I picked this packet up is actually two reasons – the delicate red paper sachet that it comes in and the certain to please combination of chocolate and raspberry.
The Chocolate: Bellagio Raspberry Parfait Gourmet Hot Cocoa
Type of Chocolate: Milk chocolate
Cocoa Content: Unlisted
Best Eaten: Alone
Price: $0.99
The Bellagio Raspberry Parfait Gourmet Hot Cocoa promised a nice warm drink to curl up with at the end of a long day but to be perfectly honest it does not make for a particularly inviting drink after the initial scent.
Taste:
The Bellagio Raspberry Parfait Gourmet Hot Cocoa comes in an average size paper envelope that is deep red in color and easily opened. Upon opening the envelope the initial scent is a milk chocolate and rather pleasing raspberry highlight. The Bellagio Raspberry Parfait Gourmet Hot Cocoa is easily mixed with one cup of hot water and stirred to yield a thin hot cocoa that holds dark brown speckles on the surface.
My first impression of the Bellagio Raspberry Parfait Gourmet Hot Cocoa after adding boiling water is that is carries the odor of tobacco, a deep rich scent that is at times pleasing and at times reminiscent of a French tobacconist shop. Taking a sip of the Bellagio Raspberry Parfait Gourmet Hot Cocoa I am met with a sweet but earthy flavor, a flavor that has just a hint of licorice. There is enough milk chocolate flavor to the cocoa for it to be considered cocoa yet there is an over powering earthiness that is unusual to hot cocoa and not particularly pleasant. While hot cocoa should carry more than a single dimension in my opinion, said dimensions should not, again in my opinion, have such an earthy flavor and be so reminiscent of a tobacco shop or truffle tasting. Hot cocoa should be sweet, balanced and rich and while I respect the effort to combine raspberry in to the Bellagio Raspberry Parfait Gourmet Hot Cocoa the full body of this drink is far too overpowered by other elements.
The aftertaste of the Bellagio Raspberry Parfait Gourmet Hot Cocoa is an overly sweet licorice flavor.
Ingredients:
The ingredients in the Bellagio Raspberry Parfait Gourmet Hot Cocoa include: Non-Dairy Creamer (corn syrup solids, partially hydrogenated soy and coconut oil, sodium caseinate (a milk derivative), dipotassium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, mono & diglycerides), sugar, cocoa, natural and artificial flavoring, guar gum, and salt. Allergen Information: contains milk and soy.
The Bottom Line:
The Bellagio Raspberry Parfait Gourmet Hot Cocoa is disappointing, the flavor overall is far too sweet and while I can appreciate the multi-dimensional flavor it is rather imbalanced. Hot cocoa should not carry the taste of licorice nor earth particularly when it is supposed to be a raspberry hot chocolate. The bottom line for this cocoa is that it is far too artificial as far as ingredients go and unsatisfying as far as taste.
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You can purchase the Bellagio Raspberry Parfait Gourmet Hot Cocoa online in individual sachets or by the handful!
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