Instant Hot Chocolate: Starbucks "Holiday Cocoa Trio" Toasted Marshmallow

Finally it's gotten cold again, and it's hot chocolate season once again! Alright, so it's been cold for a while, and I've been drinking hot chocolate since September - I just haven't gotten around to writing any reviews. This is partially because I've discovered a few really great hot chocolates, and I've been less experimental - but since I haven't written reviews on any of those great hot chocolates, I really have no excuse. Anyway, on with the show!

Starbucks "Holiday Cocoa Trio" Toasted Marshmallow

I saw this at my school's Starbucks and snatched it up - there weren't a lot left, and the "toasted marshmallow" flavor that replaced the normal cocoa trio's "Salted Caramel" sounded interesting. I also liked that the directions called for milk, not water. As I've mentioned, I always follow the recipe given on the box for reviews, but personally I much prefer hot chocolate made with milk. So when the directions call for milk, I don't have to worry about having to drink watery chocolate, and I don't have to worry about knowing that the hot chocolate could be better were the directions different.

Having made it, I'm still curious about the "toasted marshmallow". The packet comes with marshmallows inside (something I managed not to notice until I was done stirring it). Are those supposed to be the toasted marshmallows the name refers to? They aren't toasted by any means, instead they taste like stale Lucky Charms mushrooms. I thought maybe there would be some sort of "toasty" quality to the flavor of the drink, but if there is I'm not noticing it. The hot chocolate is good, though - it's weaker than a lot of hot chocolates you can get at a cafe, but I think that's pretty unavoidable with instant hot chocolate. I should also mention that upon finishing, I found a fair-sized clump of powder stuck to the bottom of my mug - so it's possible that it could have had more flavor than I give it credit for.

The set costs about $10, with a total of 9 packets (3 of each flavor). That's a little over a dollar a cup, which for instant hot chocolate, is a little steep. While I have yet to determine if the only difference between the normal cocoa and the "Toasted Marshmallow" is the presence of a few marshmallows, there's still the peppermint flavor - so at least it's a sort of "sampler".

Ratings
Taste: 3.5
Value: 2.5
Convenience: 4