Mörk Chocolate is the bomb...
and so are these other Melbourne based drinking chocolates.
At 6am on May 21st, Avalon Airport was shut down for four hours. Flights were delayed. Passengers were stranded. The reason? A young man flying from Melbourne to Sydney was carrying a container of hot chocolate powder in his carry on that the security somehow mistook for military-grade explosives.
Seriously, I’m not making this stuff up.
Not much happens in Australia. Frankly, it’s a good place to live.
The very normal, and not remotely bomb-like, container was full of hot chocolate from Melbourne craft chocolate maker Mörk.
I thought I’d share with you all a list of a few other dangerously good Melbourne based drinking chocolates that I’ve successfully smuggled through airport security without any issues, aside from maybe jealous stares.
Mörk Cacao Artisans
The original culprits of explosive drinking chocolates, Mörk, offer many options from their approachable Junior Dark 50%, a perfectly respectable 70%, and all the way up to their smooth Even Darker 85%, best paired with one of their roasted marshmallows. If you are up for a little more detonation power, try their Dark Milk & Salt 65% with its dark caramel notes, or their newest release, appropriately Atomic Mint. You can also enjoy these at their numerous locations around the CBD in Melbourne.
Hunted and Gathered
Hunted and Gathered produce another equally suspicious looking drinking chocolate canister. Their range starts at a sweet 50% before stepping up through 60% and 70%, depending on your mood. When you’re ready, I highly recommend their 100% drinking chocolate made from beans from the Zorzal Cacao in the Dominican Republic. If you still need a touch of sweetness, pair this with a canister of Buttered Vanilla Marshmallows. Everything is made at their Cremorne factory and can be bought online or at their pop-up shop on Gertrude Street.
Ratio Cocoa Roasters
Ratio Cocoa Roasters in Melbourne offers three drinking chocolates, including a 40% and a darker 60%. Founder Debbie Makin uses her house blend of her sustainably sourced bean to bar chocolates and added panela and coconut blossom sugar to create a bold and decadent drink that is easily enjoyed every day. My personal favourite is the chilli hot chocolate, turbocharged with cinnamon, chili, clove and salt. You can visit their shop in Brunswick to taste it in person or even take a factory tour to see how it is made.
Monsieur Truffe
Monsieur Truffe has an equally explosive drinking chocolate canister, a mix of cacao mass, cacao butter, soya lecithin and vanilla extract. I still miss the days when this chocolate was mixed with all sorts of fabulous flavours and sold at the now sadly closed East Elevation café. Another option I recommend, with equally suspicious packaging, is their dark gianduja which makes for one highly volatile hot chocolate.
Living Koko
Living Koko sell range of drinking chocolates made from cacao made from Samoan cocoa beans and packaged in equally suspicious canisters. Their lineup includes a 100% alongside chilli and peppermint variations. Equally, if not more dangerous (in a good way) is their Kokolove bomb, a 70% dark chocolate ball filled with marshmallows and their 100% drinking chocolate, to be enjoyed with hot milk, water or even coconut water. Best handled with caution.
Thanks for reading,
Giselle
Chief Drinking Chocolate Sipper over at www.ultimatehotchocolate.com and author of upcoming book The World Of Chocolate.