Difference between instant cocoa and drinking chocolate
There's a question with answers detailing the difference between pure cocoa powder and chocolate; it boils down to the 'raw' cocoa powder being a very ungrateful, bitter substance difficult to use without making the results taste terrible. It takes quite a bit of processing to be turned into chocolate; the difference is obvious.
Still, there are nice friendly and tasty 'instant' cocoa granulates that make quite delicious drinks very easily, "Just add hot milk".
And then there's instant drinking chocolate, "Just add hot milk".
What's the difference between the two? Is it just naming/branding technicality or are they two different drinks?
Best Answer
They are technically different... but it seems that the producers do not always follow the correct terminology in an attempt to sound fancy.
Instant Cocoa is made with cocoa powder, as you stated in your question. It's made from leftovers from the chocolate making process and contains little cocoa butter. Hot beverages made with it are called "Hot Cocoa".
Drinking Chocolate is actually made with actual chocolate, either in disks, pellets or shavings. This means it contains lots of the rich, buttery cocoa butter. Adding it to hot milk causes the chocolate to melt and turn into the delicious beverage "Hot Chocolate".
The terms above are as found on several sites, including the one below... That being said, the "Drinking Chocolate" pictured above, Divine Drinking Chocolate, is not actually drinking chocolate. It is a sweetened cocoa powder mixture. Divine Site
So, when you're looking for a true drinking chocolate be sure to read the ingredients label.
More in-depth info on the source link.
Source: The Nibble
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Quick Answer about "Difference between instant cocoa and drinking chocolate"
Instant Cocoa is made with cocoa powder, as you stated in your question. It's made from leftovers from the chocolate making process and contains little cocoa butter. Hot beverages made with it are called "Hot Cocoa". Drinking Chocolate is actually made with actual chocolate, either in disks, pellets or shavings.Is drinking chocolate the same as cocoa powder?
Drinking chocolate is different from hot cocoa in that it's made with full-fat chocolate; none of the cocoa butter is removed. More often than not, drinking chocolate is a cup of pure chocolate, thinned out with hot milk or water, while hot cocoa mix is added in order to flavor the liquid.Are hot chocolate and hot cocoa the same thing?
Hot Cocoa has a thinner consistency and tends to be creamier and sweeter because of the additives. True Hot Chocolate, on the other hand, is much richer and denser; it can also have bittersweet notes depending on the type and percentage of pure cacao used as the base.Can I use hot chocolate powder instead of cocoa powder?
Hot cocoa mix can actually be used as a cocoa powder substitute in your favorite chocolate desserts. Hot chocolate desserts, like hot chocolate mug cakes, hot chocolate cookies, and hot cocoa cupcakes, use store-bought powdered mix and go way beyond your mug.Is Cadbury hot chocolate the same as cocoa powder?
The answer is no, even though the two terms are often used interchangeably and many assume they are one and the same. So let's set the record straight. A classic hot cocoa contains cocoa powder, sugar, and milk.Hot Chocolate Recipe - AMERICAN VS ITALIAN HOT CHOCOLATE
More answers regarding difference between instant cocoa and drinking chocolate
Answer 2
I have a different observation from Catija. I've seen tons of "Hot chocolate" drinks which are indeed just mixtures of precooked cocoa powder, sugar and starch.
You have to read the ingredients to know what you have in front of you. Maybe there are jurisdictions where the name is preserved for real chocolate, but if this is not the case here in the EU, known for overly strict labeling, I doubt you will find such a protection elsewhere.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.