Issue 23: Two Hot Chocolate Filled Hours in Brisbane, Australia
G’day! I know, I know…it’s been a while. The good news though is that I am travelling again which means lots of new content! After being locked in Western Australia for the past 2+ years because of COVID, we are now allowed out and I have lots of really cool chocolate trips planned. I promise I’ll finish posting the chocolates from my Spain trip shortly but first I wanted to share a few from yesterday. I’m just back from a trip speaking to cacao growers in Far North Queensland, Australia. I’ve been posting pictures on Instagram (I hardly had any reception so I’ll keep posting them today). I’ll also share more info here in the next few weeks.
Enjoy!
Giselle
Chief Chocolate Sipper
So you have 2 hours in Brisbane…what do you do?
Well, obviously, you try to drink as many hot chocolates as you can. If you agree with me, here is what your two hours might look like.
Step 1: Take the Airtrain from Brisbane Airport into the city. It takes 20 minutes and leaves every 15 minutes during rush hour and every 30 minutes the rest of the day. I wouldn’t say it is the most scenic train, but it gets you there. Get off at the South Brisbane stop.
Step 2: Have lunch…preferably Japanese. That’s what the kids demanded. Plus drinking too many hot chocolates on an empty stomach is probably not the smartest idea. You have a few options here, all close to the station. Our first choice was Ramen Danbo but it was close so we ended up at JMT Rice bowl and K-Chicken. The spicy pork and the fried chicken were favourites. Another option we considered was Lune, an amazing croissant spot with some savoury options (and a hot chocolate I have reviewed in the past here).
Step 3. A Hot Chocolate at Coffee Heads. This originally wasn’t on the plans but when we saw their sign on the sidewalk that said coffee AND cacao we had no choice but to stop. Click here for the full review.
Step 4. A Hot Chocolate (and some ice cream) at Messina. Messina makes amazing ice cream. They are one of my favourites, no doubt about it. They make their own signature blend of chocolate using Ecuadorian cocoa mass and butter and use it, along with milk from their own dairy in their white, milk or dark hot chocolate offerings. Sometimes they have other, more fancy hot chocolates… but sadly not today. Click here for the full review.
Step 5. A Hot Chocolate at Noosa Chocolate Factory. From Messina, continue straight and cross the bridge over the river. Take a moment to take in the city, including several beautiful older buildings hidden amongst the growing number of shiny new skyscrapers. You will pass two shops, a small one that doesn’t serve drinks, and then a second one that does. Click here for the full review. It is served very hot (too hot really), so carefully take it with you to Central Station (2 minute walk), get on the next Airtrain back to the airport, and enjoy it slowly during the journey.
I should probably add that I didn’t drink ALL of these hot chocolates. Everyone in the family had a sip of the hot chocolates and we scored them. Coffee Heads and Noosa tied for number one spot:)
There are several hot chocolates I didn’t get a chance to try in Brisbane including
Chocolate Moments (also in the city, if we had skipped lunch, we could have made it to this one too!)
Piggy Back has a white hot chocolate with whipped cream and Oreos
If you want to add a bit of actual sight seeing while in Brisbane, it is a beautiful city with lots to do.
Finally, I brought some hot chocolates from 17 Rocks with us on our trip including the Chili dark, Botanical spices and their classic dark. 17 Rocks is a craft chocolate maker based in Brisbane that use single origin cacao beans from Papua New Guinea to create a range of bars and drinks. Here is a picture of their Dark on Noah’s Beach in the Daintree. For more on these visit my Instagram.
This Week’s Hot Chocolate News
I wish I couldn’t have attended the xicolatada, a tradition in the pyrenees in France where everyone drinks hot chocolate!
Been reading up on artificial sweeteners here
This bar in Ukraine has a whole of boozy hot chocolate inspired cocktails including a Triple Sec spiked hot chocolate called Granny’s Pick
Consumers in India are choosing dark over milk chocolate products
The story of the inaugural Pacific Cacao and Chocolate Show
Finally, if you liked this newsletter, could you please share it with a few other hot chocolate loving friends?
Thanks for reading and have a great week!
Giselle
Chief Chocolate Sipper at www.ultimatehotchocolate.com. Follow on Instagram @ultimatehotchoc