Hot Chocolate Festival is back!
The Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival is back this year with over 140 hot chocolate designs featured at 95 locations, there’s so much to discover, including two hot chocolate creations from Aperitivo Coffee Truck available at Riley Park and Hastings Park winter farmers markets.
Don’t miss out on the PISTACHIO MUSTACHIO – Available January 14 – 30, 2023. Fresh-made pistachio milk frothed into micro-foam and blended into their house chocolate sauce, then topped with pistachio whip and chocolate-dipped biscotti (can be made vegan). Pistachio milk is made right on the truck using three simple ingredients: raw hulled pistachios, water and a dash of sea salt.
Also on offer is the CIOCCOLATA CALDA MASCARPONE – Available February 1-14, 2023 – House made dark chocolate sauce perfectly infused with a rich cream and crowned by a dollop of decadent mascarpone whip. Paired with a fresh baked, chocolate-dipped, chocolate biscotti from Italia Bakery. These delicious hot chocolates will be available at Riley Park on Saturdays, January 28th, February 4th, and February 11th and at Hastings Park on Sunday, February 5th.
Longtime vendor Drunken Chocolatier, will be serving their TOAST THE TREE – Available January 14 – 28, 2023. A 70% dark drinking chocolate with hojicha (roasted green tea) and maple syrup in piping hot oat milk. Served with house made hojicha shortbread.
In addition to that they have created The BLACKCURRANT SUPREME – Available January 29 – February 14, 2023 – Local blackcurrants + creamy milk chocolate with steamy hot milk. Served with a house made currant scone. Find both of these delicious hot chocolate creations available for takeout at 108 – 223 W. Broadway, Vancouver, Hours: Wed and Fri, 11-5:30 & Sat 12-6 (not available at VFM markets).
Last but certainly not least, and new to Hot Chocolate Fest this year is market vendor Kasama Chocolates! Be sure to try their BRAZO DE MERCEDES – Available January 14 – February 14, 2023 – An homage to the Philippine dessert with the same name, this purple-coloured drinking chocolate features ube and pandan and is topped with a floating calamansi meringue. The ube pandan white chocolate used in this drink is made in house and will evoke flavours of almonds, vanilla and coconut. Served with an ube pandan shortbread cookie.
Also not to be missed is 3 CONTINENTS DARK CHOCOLATE – Available January 14 – February 14, 2023. This drink features stoneground, house made cacao with origins from three continents: Africa, South America and Asia. This 70% drinking chocolate will take you on a journey through these three regions, evoking tastes of berries and pears with a rich, caramel and chocolate finish. Served on the side: one taster of each of the three origin chocolates used in the hot chocolate to showcase how each chocolate contributes to the overall flavour of the drink. Available for takeout from #2 – 1244 Cartwright St., Vancouver (Granville Island), Hours: Wed-Fri 10-5 & Sat-Sun 11-6 (not available at VFM markets).
Other honourable hot chocolate mentions are Beta 5 Chocolates’ Love Potion #5, this hot chocolate is a pinkalicious blend of strawberries, white chocolate and boba pearls, (The) Federal Store’s Malter Memories, Malted 66% Valrhona Caraïbe hot chocolate with whip cream, topped with crispy, candied, rye bread crumble and malted rim, & Pallet Coffee Roasters’ Living in a Lychee Dream, A hot chocolate with rosemary, lychee and simple syrup. Served with a rosemary-dipped shortbread cookie.
What makes enjoying these hot chocolates even sweeter is that our Fresh to Families fund is a charitable partner! Every hot chocolate you enjoy during the festival will help feed families living with lower income while supporting the livelihoods of small-scale BC farmers and producers.
Vancouver Farmers Markets is so grateful to The Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival and their participating partners for their ongoing support of Fresh to Families. We’re honoured to be in community with such caring and aligned folks.
Learn more & find a complete list of participating cafes here.
