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During the cold winter months, whether you’ve been playing in the snow, walking in the brisk air, or working on outdoor home projects, there is one thing guaranteed to warm you up quickly – in addition to a long, hot shower, of course – and that is hot chocolate.
Enjoyed by all ages, a rich and creamy cocoa is a must-have on especially chilly days. Around Severna Park and Arnold, several cafés and food trailers serve their own takes on the classic beverage. The Voice editorial staff recently sampled several local cocoas – all made with whole milk and topped with whipped cream for uniformity – to discover what is unique about each hometown hot chocolate, and whether one might rise to the top as a favorite.
Patrons frequent this popular new spot in the heart of Severna Park for its many enticing ice cream flavors year-round, but did you know that it also offers a treat that isn’t frozen? According to Instagram, Always Ice Cream makes homemade hot cocoa using a recipe passed down for over 20 years. Hot water is blended with a generous mix that includes cocoa powder and malt, and the $4 beverage can be topped with whipped cream, marshmallows and/or peppermint pieces.
If you’re set on ice cream, the scoop shop has a hot chocolate flavor on rotation, featuring a chocolate base swirled with marshmallows.
We agreed that out of the cocoas we sampled, Always Ice Cream’s hot chocolate was on the lighter, not overly sweet side, just right to warm you up and satisfy a dessert craving at the same time.
The robust menu of coffee, espresso beverages, teas and smoothies at The Big Bean is rounded out by hot chocolate. Made with the café’s mocha sauce and steamed milk of your choice, whether skim, whole, almond, soy or coconut, The Big Bean’s cocoa can be topped with whipped cream. It comes in four sizes, ranging in price from $3.25 to $4.40, and the popular local coffee shop also offers a kiddie size for $2.65.
Similar to one of its signature espresso drinks, the Mexican mocha, The Big Bean’s Mexican hot chocolate incorporates a warm blend of spices including cinnamon for a layered, unique flavor.
It was unanimous among our taste-testers that The Big Bean’s hot chocolate was the richest of all the cocoas we tried, with a distinct dark chocolate taste.
This health-conscious food trailer located along Benfield Road offers a variety of acai bowls, breakfast sandwiches, toasts, smoothies, coffee and hot chocolate. Made with a chocolate syrup and steamed milk, its cocoa can be customized with a flavor shot like caramel or peppermint. Milk options include skim, whole, oat and almond.
Pura Vida Bowls & Java’s website describes its hot cocoa as a blend of chocolates that make “a true Dutch hot chocolate.” A small is $3, and a large is $3.50.
After tasting Pura Vida’s hot chocolate, the Voice editorial team noted that it had the most classic or familiar taste, like an elevated version of cocoa made at home, enhanced by the whole milk and whipped cream. If you have a sweet tooth, this may be your favorite. We agreed this was the sweetest of the hot chocolates we tried.
Eastern Shore-based Rise Up Coffee has locations in Severna Park and Arnold, and it offers hot chocolate made with mocha sauce, vanilla syrup and your choice of steamed skim, whole, oat, almond or coconut milks. Topped with house-made whipped cream, the rich, frothy beverage comes in three sizes ranging from $4 to $4.50. The Severna Park location is currently offering a winter special: caramel hot chocolate.
Our tasting notes from Rise Up’s cocoa converged on a bold chocolate flavor balanced by the vanilla, making it an appealing selection for both kids and adults.
Two other food trailers, located along the B&A Trail, also offer hot cocoa on their menus. However, The Coffee Trailer is closed for the month of January, and B&A Acai Bowls is on a winter hiatus until March, so our team was unable to sample their hot chocolate.
Of the four cocoas we enjoyed, all were satisfying in their own way and sure to warm you up on a cold winter’s day. But one did rise to the top as a group favorite. We agreed that the rich, flavorful hot chocolate at The Big Bean was a palette-pleasing winner.
If the cold doesn’t bother you, or if you want to enjoy the chocolatey goodness of cocoa all year long, The Big Bean, Pura Vida Bowls & Java, and Rise Up Coffee Roasters all offer frozen hot chocolates on their drink menus as well.
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