Fraus: Raspberry - North Melbourne

Raspberry

Served steaming hot with a slight raspberry fragrance. It’s subtle, but very, very nice. It tastes juicy and refreshing with a slight crisp tang on it. And because Dark chocolate is used, it kind of tastes like a cherry ripe.

And like my favourite so far the banana, the cooler it gets, the better you can taste the raspberry. And that means that by the last couple of spoonful’s, it’s absolutely sublime.

Summary: It’s a great flavour concept and I really think it has potential. If I were to make one criticism it would be that the flavour could be stronger. They need to experiment with milk chocolate, and tweak the choc to berry ratio.

OTHER INFO:

Marshmallows: No (But not needed obviously)

Price: $4.00 cup, $4.50 mug

How they describe it: “The explosive flavour of fresh raspberries blended with our rich, dark cocoa of the Ivory Coast makes this a chocolate lovers dream.”

MARKINGS:

Presentation: 6.5/10

Froth: N/A

Taste: 7.2/10

Overall: 7.3/10

Fraus: Pistachio - North Melbourne

Pistachio

By now you probably know all the ussual traits of a Fraus hot chocolate (Temp, Thickness etc.). So this is just a quickie.

The flavour is a bit hard to pick, but it is there. Even though the flavour is quite subtle it is a strange feeling drinking something that you know is supposed to be salty and yet it is being put with chocolate.

Unfortunately due to the fact that it is so subtle, by the time your about three quarters of the way through, it becomes virtually impossible to pick the flavour.

Summary: Not bad, still yummy, but could use a bit of work. For me it’s just not strong enough.

OTHER INFO:
Marshmallows: No (But not needed obviously)
Price: $4.00 cup, $4.50 mug
How they describe it: “We have combined the delicate sweet taste of our rich cocoa with pistachio for a true chocolate indulgence”

MARKINGS:
Presentation: 6.5/10
Froth: N/A
Taste: 6.1/10
Overall: 6/10

Max Brenner - Mexican Spicey - Highpoint

Max Brenner – Highpoint
Mexican Spicy

Served in the regular “Hug Mug” with light froth with a small swirl on top. The forth has subtle spices, but could be a bit more powerful. The mixture isn’t as thick as the Italian Hot Chocolate, and it is more watery.

The mixture isn’t so much Mexican spice, as bitter dark chocolate. But if you do swirl it in your mouth, you do get some spice which I believe is Mexican cinnamon. The temperature could definitely be hotter. There is no choc shot but there is a spicy swig. Not like a burning chilli heat, but exotic spice.
Post drink however, you do get a lovely spice flavour in your mouth to enjoy.

Summary: Well in all honesty, it was pretty wimpy. What they needed to do was get the same amount of kick that you get in the last swig, and make the whole drink taste like that. Overall, fairly wimpy.

OTHER INFO:
Marshmallows: No
Price: $6.00
How they describe it: N/A
Address: Highpoint, Maribyrnong
Website: http://www.maxbrenner.com.au/

MARKINGS:
Presentation: 7/10
Froth: 6.5/10
Taste: 6/10
Overall: 6.4/10

Chokolait - The Hub Arcade - Chilli

Chilli – Dark

Heat level: 5

When you order this drink you get given the option of having the heat ranging 1-10, so I decided to get average, level 5.

The froth was just divine, rich, dark and just enough chilli heat. It had real choc shreds, and red speckles of heat.

The mixture itself was life changing. The combination of the potent, slightly bitter dark chocolate and the medium burn of the chilli are amazing, especially at the back of your mouth and throat. Each of those two things intensify and accelerate the flavour of the other.

I must admit though it’s not for the faint hearted. Due to the size of the cup your throat really will be burning by the end of the drink. And I did have to reach for a bottle of water twice. But thankfully there was no chilli shot in the last swig.

Summary: Absolutely incredible. Dark Chocolate and Chilli are a match made in heaven. If you are brave enough I very strongly recommend you order this, just remember to be wise when you select your heat number (you have been warned!!).

OTHER INFO:

Marshmallows: No

Price: $6.00

MARKINGS:

Presentation: 9.2/10

Froth: 11.5/10

Taste: 10/10

Overall: 10/10

Monsieur Truffle - Collingwood

Monsieur Truffle – Collingwood

I must admit it is a bit confusing to get a Hot Chocolate in this place, there are no menus on the tables, no big chalk boards, you have to go up to the counter and just ask and hope.

Nevertheless when you do get the drink, it looks beautiful, a small cup with wooden spoon and saucer, with raw cacao on top. But saying that the froth is terrible, let’s face it you’re eating 100% raw cacao, it is bitter and unpleasant. Mind you once you get past it, the medium thickness mix is amazing. A brilliant dark flavour, unique to anything I’ve ever tasted before. It’s sharp, it’s bitey and it stays in your tongue and throat. And if it does sound too strong for you, they will make it weaker.
Also there is no choc shot, and the size is too small.

Summary: A very fun, unique Hot Chocolate experience. Well worth trying.

OTHER INFO:
Marshmallows: No
Price: $4.00
How they describe it: N/A
Address: 90 Smith Street
Website: http://monsieurtruffe.wordpress.com/

MARKINGS:
Presentation: 9.2/10
Froth: 0.5/10
Taste: 8/10
Overall: 8/10

Mio Dolce - Moonie Ponds

Mio Dolce – Moonie Ponds

Italian Hot Chocolate

Served in one of the best looking glasses I’ve ever seen, a glass mug with funky handle. Like all traditional Italian Hot Chocolates there is no froth, and it is steaming hot. I tasted it, and found it tasted precisely like Fraus. It looked like Fraus, it has the same consistency as Fraus, and it tastes the same as Fraus. Now I’m not accusing anybody of plagiarism here but it was similar in every way, except for the cup.

Summary: Look, it tastes delicious and is a joy to drink, and yes if you just happen to be craving a Hot Chocolate in Moonie Ponds, this is a sure fire satisfier. But me I’ll stick with Fraus thanks.

OTHER INFO:

Marshmallows: No

Price: N/A

How they describe it: N/A

Address: 89 Puckle St. Moonie Ponds

Website: www.miodolce.com.au

MARKINGS:

Presentation: 7.2/10

Froth: N/A

Taste: 7/10

Overall: 7.1/10