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Chocolate Tea: What Do You Think?

We'd always considered chocolate-flavored teas a product of the dieting industry until Alex Whitmore, co-founder of Taza Chocolate, mentioned that chocolate teas were a traditional South American drink. Do you like chocolate tea?

Most chocolate and cocoa teas are made by mixing roasted and winnowed cacao shells with regular black tea. The cacao shells infuse the brewed tea with chocolate-y flavor without the calories of regular cocoa.

Don't drink it expecting cocoa, but chocolate tea makes a decent beverage in its own right. The ones we've tried have been mild, pleasantly sweet, and especially good with a splash of milk. For us, much of the chocolate experience seems to be more in the aroma than the actual flavor.

Many tea companies carry chocolate tea, including Harney & Sons, Mighty Leaf, and Boston-based Tealuxe. Even Trader Joe's carries their own version!

Do you have a favorite kind of chocolate tea?

(Image: Harney & Sons)

Comments (13)

Ugh. That's almost as bad as the bottle of chocolate cabernet (yes, that's right) I spotted at a local wine/beer shop. It looked like YooHoo (TM). Blech.

posted by keltrue on May 6th 2009 at 1:46pm
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Blech.

posted by Dana McCauley on May 6th 2009 at 2:51pm
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French Breakfast by Mariage is a blend of black teas with a "taste of malt and chocolate". One of my all time favorites but hard to find in the US.

posted by RAHock on May 6th 2009 at 3:14pm
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I would love to try it. I'll try anything once.

posted by Mama Ark on May 6th 2009 at 3:45pm
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Oh, I adore Mariage French Breakfast. I can get it near me, so have it all the time. It doesn't taste super chocately to me, though - just like very smooth, lovely breakfast tea.

posted by lindyleech on May 6th 2009 at 7:03pm
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super tasty ... but TJs has since discontinued its chocolate tea. It had hints of vanilla and coconut and was lovely with a spoon of sugar and splash of milk.

posted by Joan in SB on May 7th 2009 at 12:05am
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Fortnum & Mason's Christmas blend has chocolate and orange infusions. Add a little milk, and voila--best mid-afternoon snack ever.

posted by Kathryne on May 7th 2009 at 7:27am
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Yogi tea has a blend called "Mayan Cocoa Spice" that, while not actually a tea (it's a blend of cacao, herbs, and spices), is quite tasty. Adding cacao nibs and shell to a tea doesn't actually impart a fake chocolate flavor, but instead gives a very woodsy, rich flavor with just a hint of cocoa. It's delicious with some honey and milk.

posted by simplyrudy on May 7th 2009 at 8:12am
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I've tried the one in the photo, Harney and Sons. It was pretty good, not overly chocolate flavored. I think I brewed it way too long though, it made my stomach hurt. Harney and Sons also has a chocolate mint flavored tea. That one I have to be in the mood for though.

posted by paperchaseuk on May 7th 2009 at 9:07am
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I've tried a chocolate green tea bought at a chinese store.. It is great! And I love to have it with lot of milk :)

posted by Patyy on May 7th 2009 at 2:06pm
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I love Teavana's choco-nut green tea, and their 'Azteca Fire', which has chocolate, chili peppers, etc...

posted by greenbird on May 7th 2009 at 8:55pm
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Republic of Tea's Mate Latte doesn't actually contain China tea, but the blend of mate with cocoa nibs and flowers is really divine.

posted by whytephoenix on May 8th 2009 at 5:25pm
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A local tea shop used to carry a chocolate mint tea that I loved. Sadly, they're no longer in business.

posted by kmacp on May 20th 2009 at 8:12pm
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