Choc It Like It's Hot

Jocelyn Pride

As the temperature dips, it’s time to cosy up with a mug of piping hot chocolate. Hot chocolate is the new coffee. Okay, so it’s never actually been out of vogue (the Mayans started drinking it more than 2000 years ago). However, with the cocoa bean having ‘a moment’, here’s where to get your fix.

DAYLESFORD HOT CHOCOLATE Arkie Williams, owner and operator of this quintessential Daylesford café, loves to create a special experience for her customers. Using ethically sourced cocoa from Vanuatu, she blends spices such as turmeric and pepper with the chocolate to bring out the flavour.

OVERWROUGHT GALLERY Who can resist a hot chocolate (and maybe a sweet treat) surrounded by hundreds of pieces of garden art at this indoor/outdoor gallery in Blampied?

THE CHOCOLATE MILL When your hot chocolate is served in a bowl and you get to scrape the sides at the end, you know its place for serious chocoholics. And that’s exactly how the ethically conscious Chocolate Mill in Mt Franklin rolls.

DAS KAFFEEHAUS Although this slice of pure Viennese-style specialises in-house roasted coffee, the hot chocolate is equally heavenly. Located at The Mill, an old carpet factory turned eclectic foodie / art hub in Castlemaine.

THE MILKO A buzzing local hang-out in Woodend. Great traditional style hot chocolate with a naughty-but-nice selection of cakes and pastries to add to the indulgence.

HOME GROWN ON PIPER Who knew coconut hot chocolate was a thing? Apparently, this combo was a happy accident that now has quite a following in this farm-style café in Kyneton.

SOCIAL FOUNDRY Like everything in Kyneton’s great little social enterprise café, the hot chocolate is ethically sourced (Ballarat based Grounded Pleasures), and brewed to perfection.

MOUNT MACEDON TRADING POST Close to all Mount Macedon has to offer, this family run all-rounder (it even doubles as a post office), is the beating heart of the town. Sit in the pretty café or grab a takeaway hot chocolate to go.

SWEET DECADENCE Thirty plus years and still going strong, this tiny movieset café is a mainstay of Daylesford. Snuggle up with a mug of hot chilli dark chocolate and watch the passing parade of people along Vincent St.

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