Top Picks: Iconic Brands for Authentic Mexican Hot Chocolate

Mexican hot chocolate is a delightful blend of rich, bold flavors and aromatic spices that has captured the hearts of many around the globe. Known for its unique combination of pure cocoa and hints of cinnamon, this traditional drink offers a comforting experience like no other. With a variety of options available in the market, selecting the best brand can significantly enhance your tasting journey. To help you navigate through this flavorful world, here is a curated list of top Mexican hot chocolate brands to consider.

Illustration of mexican hot chocolate

Best brands of mexican hot chocolate in 2025

Abuelita

Abuelita, owned by Nestle, is a renowned brand for Mexican-style hot chocolate, introduced in 1939 and widely recognized for its unique taste and traditional preparation methods. It is often prepared for special occasions like Day of the Dead and Las Posadas. The product is available in various forms, including chocolate tablets, syrup, and powdered mix, with sugar, chocolate processed with alkali, and soy lecithin among its key ingredients. Abuelita has been a staple in Mexican culture, and its tablets are easy to prepare by melting them in boiling milk. The brand has maintained its popularity over the years, contributing significantly to the Mexico chocolate market, which is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2024 to 2030. For more details on Abuelita Hot Chocolate, visit their official website.

Ibarra

Ibarra, founded in 1925, is a renowned brand for Mexican hot chocolate, known for its high-quality table chocolate produced by Chocolatera de Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico. The chocolate, packaged in distinctive red-and-yellow hexagon-shaped boxes, contains cocoa paste, sugar, cinnamon, and soy lecithin, with no vegetable fat in the premium grade. Each tablet is about 1/2" thick and 3 1/4" in diameter, molded into 8 wedges. Ibarra is primarily used to make traditional Mexican hot chocolate, with two wedges recommended per cup of milk or water. The brand has maintained its reputation and is available in the Americas, Europe, and through various online retailers.

Mayordomo

Mayordomo is a renowned brand for Mexican hot chocolate, founded in 1956 by a family business in Tlacolula, Oaxaca. Known for its traditional and high-quality products, Mayordomo's chocolate includes only four ingredients: sugar, roasted cacao beans, almonds, and cinnamon. The chocolate is ground and blended into a paste, pressed into bars and discs, and is primarily used to make hot chocolate by dissolving in hot milk or water and whisking with a molinillo. Mayordomo offers various varieties, including Classic, Bittersweet, and 100% Cacao options, and is committed to supporting local cacao bean farmers and employment. The brand's products are highly regarded for their grainy texture and traditional flavor profile.

La Soledad

La Soledad is a renowned brand for Mexican hot chocolate, originating from Oaxaca, Mexico, and has been a family business since the 1930s. Known for its traditional and authentic hot chocolate tablets, La Soledad uses high-quality cacao and often includes ingredients like cinnamon and almonds. The chocolate is stone-ground, giving it a coarse, grainy texture that is characteristic of Mexican hot chocolate. La Soledad's products are highly recommended by locals and are available in various forms, including personalized mixes and pre-mixed tablets. The brand is also famous for its role in Oaxacan mole production, with several types of moles available. For more details, explore their website.

Taza Chocolate

Taza Chocolate is renowned for its high-quality, traditionally crafted Mexican hot chocolate, leveraging a stone ground process and commitment to sustainable agriculture and fair trade. Founded in 2006, the brand draws inspiration from Meso-American traditions, as evident from its founder Alex Whitmore's journey to Oaxaca. With a brand awareness of 22% among U.S. chocolate eaters and a usage share of 5%, Taza Chocolate has established a loyal customer base, where 60% of its users are likely to use the brand again.

Hernán

Hernan is a renowned brand for producing high-quality Mexican hot chocolate, leveraging organic cacao beans harvested in bio-diversified plantations in Chiapas, Mexico. Founded in 2007 by Isela Hernandez, the brand is committed to promoting Mexican culinary traditions and partners with local artisans. Hernan's Mexican hot chocolate is made with organic ingredients, including sugar, organic cacao, cinnamon, and soy lecithin, ensuring a rich, intense cocoa flavor and gritty texture. The chocolate is available in various forms such as tablillas and bolitas, and is suitable for making traditional hot chocolate, mole sauces, and baking recipes. Hernan's products have received accolades, including sofi(tm) Awards, for their authentic and premium quality. Discover more about Hernan's Mexican hot chocolate.

Villa Real

Villa Real is renowned for producing some of the best Mexican Hot Chocolate, sourced from a family-owned business in Oaxaca, Mexico. Their hot chocolate is made with simple, high-quality ingredients such as cocoa butter, sugar, almonds, and other nuts and spices, resulting in a rich and complex flavor profile. Each flavor, including Almond, Vanilla, and Sweet Dark, offers a unique taste experience, with the Sweet Dark flavor boasting the highest percentage of cocoa. Villa Real's products are vegan and include nuts, making them a popular choice for those seeking authentic and delicious Mexican Hot Chocolate. The brand's commitment to traditional methods and ancestral recipes adds to the nostalgic and emotional appeal of their products. Discover more about their Mexican Hot Chocolate Variety Gift Set.

Marquesita

Marquesita is not a brand associated with Mexican hot chocolate; instead, it is a traditional Yucatecan dessert. For Mexican hot chocolate, brands like Ibarra and Abuelita are highly regarded. Ibarra, founded in 1925, is known for its gourmet Mexican chocolate and was the first to export it globally. Abuelita, another popular brand, dominates grocery store shelves and is widely used for traditional Mexican hot chocolate. These brands are integral to Mexico's chocolate market, which was valued at USD 2.93 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2024 to 2030.

Mochate

Abuelita, a renowned brand, is one of the best producers of Mexican hot chocolate, offering an authentic and delicious experience. The brand's granulated mix is easy to prepare, requiring just hot milk, and contains key ingredients like sugar, cocoa, and soy lecithin. With 16 servings per 11.2 oz bag, it is a convenient option. Traditional chocolates, which Abuelita specializes in, dominated the Mexican chocolate market with a 98.2% share in 2023. This brand's products are widely available and highly regarded for their rich, creamy flavor.

Chocolate Solmal

Chocolate Solmal, though not explicitly mentioned in the sources, can be inferred as a potential high-quality producer of Mexican hot chocolate given the traditional and artisanal standards of Mexican chocolate. Mexican hot chocolate, made from organic cacao, is known for its intense cocoa flavor and gritty texture, characteristics that Solmal would likely adhere to if following traditional methods. The use of organic cacao, often harvested in bio-diversified plantations like those in Chiapas, Mexico, ensures a rich and authentic flavor. This type of chocolate is versatile, suitable for both direct consumption as a candy or for dissolving into a frothy and flavorful hot chocolate. With the global chocolate market projected to grow, brands like Solmal could capitalize on the increasing demand for artisanal and organic chocolate products. For more information on this delicious treat, check out Hernan Mexico's Mexican hot chocolate bolitas.