Drinking Chocolate Range now available on Ocado

Launching a hot chocolate product in the heat of summer?   You’d think you’d have to be mad, but this is exactly what the independent chocolate maker, Mortimer Chocolate is doing this July!   Their range of drinking chocolates: chocolate, salted caramel and chocolate orange have just been launched on the Ocado Supermarket site, at the same time as we are all sweltering in the heat!

Adrian Smith, the master chocolate maker behind the drinks said “It seems odd, but the drinks will be in place for when the weather starts to cool off in the autumn, ready for the winter.   But also, our drinks make a lovely refreshing COLD drink with milk too!   Our customers tell us just how refreshing the cold version is, so the drinks are an all-weather option!”

In fact, the salted caramel pack carries a recipe to make the cold drink and there are more recipe ideas on the website, including one for a 10-minute chocolate cake recipe!   Handy videos to show you exactly how!  http://www.mortimerchocolate.co.uk/video-grid-gallery/   With cooler evenings and the kids at home during the summer holidays, these drinks offer the perfect all-round package to keep them (and you) satisfied and amused.

Adrian Smith went on to say: “Ocado liked the fact that our salted caramel drink had won a 2018 Quality Food Award, which usually go to much bigger brands with huge budgets.   It is an endorsement of how good our drinks are that we beat off much larger competition.   Our drinks are all based on natural cocoa powders, which gives them a delicious chocolate intensity.   We’re really excited to have the opportunity to work with Ocado and for their customers to be able to try our chocolates.”

Dairy Free Chocolate Ice Cream by Johnnys Dairy Free Ice Cream

We love the chocolate flavour, but then we are biased as it uses our wonderful Ecuador Cocoa Mass. Created by chef, Johnny Melican. His passion for good, healthy food has driven him to create an ice cream using a unique process only used by Johnny. And after many years of development you too can now taste his fabulous vegan ice-cream. Also comes in Vanilla and Honeycomb flavours. @johnnysdairyfreeicecream

Chocolate milk as post training recovery drink, Mortimer Chocolate and Oat milk is a Vegan alternative

A member of @VeganForum asked this week for a vegan post cyclying recovery drink.

Try making one with Oatmilk and Mortimer Chocolate.

There have been several research papers on the benefits of drinking chocolate milk after exercise, such as running, cycling and rugby playing.

The Benefits of Chocolate milk:

1.A natural source of high-quality protein to build lean muscle.

2.The right carbohydrate-to-protein ratio scientifically shown to refuel and rebuild exhausted muscles.

  1. A rich source of antioxidants.

4.Vitamin A to support a healthy immune system and normal vision.

5.Electrolytes including calcium, potassium, sodium and magnesium to help replenish what’s lost in sweat.

6.B vitamins for energy.

7.Fluids to rehydrate.

8.Calcium, vitamin D, phosphorus, protein and potassium to build and maintain strong bones and help reduce the risk for stress fractures.

Here at Mortimer Chocolate, we use a natural cacao powder to make our chocolate drinks.  Natural cacoa powder is high in antioxidants, being one of the richest sources of the antioxidant, flavanol.  Most cocoa powders in the UK are alkalised, via the Dutch process which destroys some of these antioxidants.  So our drinks are perfect for using as post training recovery chocolate drinks.

The studies have been conducted using cows milk, which is not suitable for Vegans but a good alternative is Oat Milk. @bbcgoodfood has a recipe for oat milk.
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-make-dairy-free-milk