Stephen's Hot Chocolate - Best food exported from Utah?

[TheBYUGuy]

It has been quite chilly here in Texas over the past week or so, so we picked up some hot chocolate mix at the store over the weekend. I'm not a hot cocoa connoisseur by any means, but this Stephen guy seems to have a pretty good product with a nice variety of flavors. In short, we usually go with Stephen's because, well, it's good.

Over the weekend, we tried Stephen's peanut butter cup hot chocolate mix. I have long said that you can't go wrong with peanut butter, and this further proved my point. I was really impressed that they included real peanut butter cups in the mix. I'm sure we will go through this can quickly and buy another.

Anyway, this got me to thinking, and I was wondering a few things:
1. Are there better hot cocoa mixes than what Stephen and Co. churn out?
2. Are there any other quality food products that are produced and exported from Utah?
3. Could there possibly be a better hot chocolate flavor than peanut butter cup?

[UtahDan]

We need a SUMMON SUPERGABERS jpeg. Wuap?

[kccougar]

If any of you live in Boston and like dark chocolate, my BIL and SIL have developed a gourmet drinking choclate called Cocoa Metro. They say it is better as cold chocolate milk, but I don't like chocolate milk so I heat it up.

https://www.cocoametro.com

[MarkGrace]

I used to be a big fan of Stephen's, but in my advanced age it's starting to taste too sweet for me. I guess that could just be the flavors I triend.

In terms of the store bought stuff, I really just like that Nestle abuelita Mexican hot chocolate.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Anyway, this got me to thinking, and I was wondering a few things:
1. Are there better hot cocoa mixes than what Stephen and Co. churn out?

Absolutely there are better hot chocolate mixes than Stephen's. I have had several that I enjoy more.

Fran's Dark Hot Chocolate is one that immediately comes to mind.
http://www.franschocolates.com/home.php?cat=35

Last Christmas Trader Joe's sold a sipping hot chocolate that was fantastic. It was even better when paired with their Mexican Hot Cocoa cookies.

[MartyFunkhouser]

I used to be a big fan of Stephen's, but in my advanced age it's starting to taste too sweet for me. I guess that could just be the flavors I triend.

In terms of the store bought stuff, I really just like that Nestle abuelita Mexican hot chocolate.

Next time you are in Portland you should check out Cacao and get a shot of the spicy drinking chocolate. It is downtown and walking distance from Powell's Bookstore, so it is an area you should already be in anyway. You can also pick up the Fran's Dark Drinking chocolate while you are there would should resolve your too sweet concerns. I do agree that Stephen's tends to be a little sweet.

[MarkGrace]

Next time you are in Portland you should check out Cacao and get a shot of the spicy drinking chocolate. It is downtown and walking distance from Powell's Bookstore, so it is an area you should already be in anyway. You can also pick up the Fran's Dark Drinking chocolate while you are there would should resolve your too sweet concerns. I do agree that Stephen's tends to be a little sweet.

Or I could pick it up here since Fran is a Seattle chocolatier.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Or I could pick it up here since Fran is a Seattle chocolatier.

This is very true. Fran's gray salt caramels is one of the best chocolates out there.

[Portland Ute]

Cache Valley Cheese is a better product, IMO, than Stephens.

I've seen it sold outside of Utah.

[MarkGrace]

This is very true. Fran's gray salt caramels is one of the best chocolates out there.

Really? I know everyone loves them, but I never have. The caramel is too chewy, and I prefer the smooth salt caramels. Which is not to say they are bad, they are good, just not my ideal My favorites here are at Bakery Nouveau and from the Christopher Elbow collection at Chocolopolis.

[TheBYUGuy]

Cache Valley Cheese is a better product, IMO, than Stephens.

I've seen it sold outside of Utah.

Does Preston, Idaho really count?

[Indy Coug]

My mission cured me of hot chocolate. Whenever we'd get inside, they would offer us tea and then ultimately offer us hot chocolate. After two years of hot chocolate I couldn't drink the stuff anymore. I drink it on Christmas Day as part of a family breakfast tradition, but that's it.

[YOhio]

No. Rhodes Rolls are easily Utah's best food export. Bear Creek Soup mixes are a distant second.

[Portland Ute]

Does Preston, Idaho really count?

BOOO!!

Cache Valley Cheese is produced in Utah, in Logan.

[Portland Ute]

No. Rhodes Rolls are easily Utah's best food export. Bear Creek Soup mixes are a distant second.

What ever happened to Lynn Wilson burritos? (Not that those would be worth of mention in this thread, but when I think Rhodes, my mind wanders to Lynn Wilson Burritos)