Hotel Chocolat expands its range of autumn hot chocolates

Hotel Chocolat expands its autumn range with a new limited edition hot chocolate with a spicy maple flavor, responding to the growing interest in sweet and spicy flavor combinations.

The new £11.95 drink combines the sweet taste of maple with the heat of habanero, bringing a flavor profile already used in the chocolatier's range of filled chocolates to a new format. It will be joined by the return of pumpkin spice hot chocolate, also at £11.95, as well as three limited-edition seasonal varieties.

The spicy maple flavor reflects the continued popularity of bold, slightly spicy flavors, bringing a combination of sweetness and heat to the drinking chocolate category. Meanwhile, the spiced pumpkin flavor returns with a blend of cinnamon, ginger, and pumpkin, aimed at satisfying consumer demand for seasonal flavors that evoke warmth and nostalgia.

Yiotis Panagiotou, master chocolatier at Hotel Chocolat, commented: “Gastronomic innovation is increasingly focused on identifying what already resonates with customers and finding new ways to offer it. The Spicy Maple originated as one of our filled chocolates, and we saw an opportunity to transfer it to a completely different format, combining the sweetness of maple syrup with the spiciness of the habanero pepper to give hot chocolate an original twist.”

The autumn product range will also cover various consumption occasions. Consumers will be able to prepare the drinks at home using a Velvetiser, a steam wand, or a stovetop, while Hotel Chocolat's Velvetiser Cafés will serve recipes such as hot chocolate, chocolate milkshakes, and mochas.

In addition to drinking chocolates, the brand is reintroducing three seasonal limited-edition Selectors: Nuts for Praline, Rustle & Crunch and Pumpkin Pie, the latter featuring spiced pumpkin ganache, almond praline and a crunchy cornflake base.