If you didn’t know, The YYC Hot Chocolate Festival happened during the month of February with shops and cafes participating. The goal was to make a special hot chocolate drink and win the “Best Hot Chocolate in Calgary.” Furthermore, when you buy a hot chocolate in participating shops and cafes, a portion of the proceeds from each purchase is being donated to support Calgary Meals on Wheels. A win-win situation!!!!. I visited many cafes and shops that sell hot chocolates in Calgary during this festival but here, for me, Top 3 Hot chocolate drinks in the Festival.
1. White Chocolate Matcha Kiss from The Light Cellar
This was my last hot chocolate I tasted in the month of February since you always save the best for last but before I came here, I was feeling sick and had a cold that lasted for three days yet I thought about curing my sickness by drinking this hot chocolate and I can tell you “IT LITERALLY WORKS.” This hot chocolate was beyond my expectation, I never realized you could combine Matcha (powdered green tea) with a hot chocolate, it tasted amazing because the sweetness was not overpowering the drink and it had a lot of flavours inside it like peppermint, green tea, and had a spicy aftertaste due to the flavour oil they put in which gives a unique taste and awesome blend to the drink.
2. Taj Mahal from The Bean Stop
When I ordered this drink, the guy asked me, “have you ever tasted handmade chocolate?” I said “Wait, what ‘Handmade chocolate,’ no way.” I waited for 5 mins for this drink and each second I waited was worth it. The guy who made this was very passionate making this drink and was like a chef making his signature dish pretty much like “Salt Bae” if you know what I mean. I was amazed by this guy because he’s the only one making drinks and handling the cash register at that time and many people were in line. When I got my drink, It contained many spices which tasted sweet and spicy. It feels like eating a very spicy food without water because it’s also sweet and you get this refreshing aftertaste a very cool combination.
3. The Hobbit from Hexagon Board Game Cafe
By far, one of the sweetest drink I ever tasted in the festival plus it had smoked bacon on it. I came here with my friends to play board games and also bought their hot chocolate. I don’t really know how to react with that when they said: “You want bacon with that?” But thankfully, I said yes, because the bacon saltiness works together in their caramel hot chocolate. It was weird but heavenly good. When I bought mine, my friends said, “Yup, I’m buying that too,” and they rushed to the counter. The bacon really helps balanced the drink and also gives the drink its smoky flavour which was really fascinating to taste. In the end, that made my day during that cold weather with my friends.