This January it returns for its 12th year, rechristened as The Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival.
Bigger and better than ever, it features 44 of our region’s best chocolatiers, pastry shops, bakeries, cafes and ice cream makers joining forces to make the humble hot chocolate hotter than it has ever been before, including 106 creations.
Here are the highlights:
Giovane Caffè
Get ready to be refreshed with the ‘Aria Fresca’ from the Italian coffee maestros at Giovane Caffè. The mint hot chocolate has an herbaceous basil twist, offering a subtle spin on a peppermint patty-inspired drink.
Giovane Caffè’s second offering is the ‘Ciao Bella’, based on one of the fan-favourite pastries baked daily by their chef. The decadent beverage sees a milky hazelnut chocolate concoction topped with crunchy cookie crumbs.
Giovanecaffe.com | @giovanecaffe | 1049 W Cordova St
Honolulu Coffee
Festival-favourite Honolulu Coffee has once again upped the ante with their tropical flavours and perfect dessert pairings available at both their downtown and Kerrisdale locations. Get whisked away to the beach with the ‘Bananako’i’, which combines a hint of passionfruit and banana with 70% dark chocolate, paired with a Banana Foster Ice Cream Sandwich to cool you down.
With ‘Soyly Guìhuā’ the Honolulu Coffee team crafts their own Guìhuā sauce from the beautiful Osmanthus frangrans flower, and expertly mixes it up with 70% dark chocolate and soy milk. The beverage is paired with their house-made Oat Walnut Guìhuā cookie.
Honolulucoffeeyvr.com | @honolulucoffeeyvr | 888 Nelson St | 2098 W 41st Ave
Sciué
Sciué collaborated to develop their hot chocolate features with the team from the former Soirette Pastry Boutique, a fan-favourite from previous editions of the hot chocolate festival, who recently closed their physical storefront.
Inspired by a different kind of mask than the ones we’ve all been wearing for the last few years – Sciué’s ‘Mask-querade’ hot chocolate takes cues from the legendary masquerade balls during the Carnival of Venice. Sciué has created a pistachio white hot chocolate, served in a crushed pistachio-rimmed mug, served with a spiced, cardamom and fennel shortbread masquerade mask cookie.
The ‘Calabria Sunshine’ celebrates the region of Calabria, the land of citrus fruit, located in the toe of Italy’s boot. The orange milk hot chocolate conjures up daydreams of sun-baked mountains and beaches, and is paired with a bergamot ricotta-filled cannoli with candied citrus and caramelized walnuts.
Both flavours will be available for the duration of GVHCF at Sciué’s Yaletown and Pender locations.
Sciue.ca | @sciuevancouver | 110- 00 Pender Street | 126 Davie Street
Super Veloce
Super Veloce is a health-focused Italian coffee bar that doesn’t sacrifice great taste. The ‘Formula Piccante’ that they’ve developed for the festival is a chile hot chocolate – it’ll get you breathing and clear your sinuses, while still being a delicious, chocolatey treat.
The ‘Pronti, Partenza, Via’ marries the classic duo of peanut butter and chocolate, providing healthy fats and protein, and utter bliss for your tastebuds.
Caffesuperveloce.com | @caffesuperveloce | Shaw Tower 150-1067 Cordova St W
Instagram Online Photo Contest
Enter into our Instagram contest for sweet, sweet prizes, consisting of gift certificates valued at $1,125 from our participating chocolate makers and cafes.
Win and you could be enjoying their chocolate-y treats all year long!
Winners will be drawn and announced on Valentine’s Day. FULL RULES AND REGULATIONS
