Gusta Classic Hot Chocolate Mix box 10 sachets
Gusta Italian cioccolata calda in cup
Gusta classic hot chocolate sachets
Gusta classic hot chocolate mix ingredients
Gusta thick Italian hot chocolate texture
Gusta classic hot cocoa serving
Lombardia

Gusta Classic Hot Chocolate

4.6149 reviews

Classic cioccolata calda (Italian hot chocolate) from Lombardia. Four ingredients.

$21.97

Purchase type
  • Stone-ground cocoa (25%), Milanese tradition
  • Ships from our New York warehouse in 1-2 days
  • Free shipping over $75
A wood-paneled Italian cafe with a brass urn, marble bistro table, and a cup of thick hot chocolate beside biscotti.
Place
Lombardia runs from the Alps to the Po Valley. Milan, at its center, developed one of Italy's oldest hot chocolate traditions through its historic cafes: thick, dark, served warm in a small cup, eaten more than drunk. The cold continental winters made it a staple.
Hot chocolate streaming from a stone mill into a glazed earthenware bowl in a sunlit workshop.
Process
Cocoa powder (25%), sugar, corn starch, salt. The formula is the definition of cioccolata calda: starch creates the thickness when heated with milk, cocoa provides the intensity. Nothing more is needed: no gums, no artificial additives.
A man scooping cocoa powder from a linen sack into a tin canister on a marble counter.
People
We work with the family in Lombardia who has made this formula for the Italian market for years. It is the version we built the line around. We taste each batch before it ships.

What's inside

Ingredients
Sugar, cocoa powder (25%), corn starch, salt. No artificial flavors. No gums. No preservatives.
Certifications
  • Made in Italy
  • Gluten-Free
  • Zero Additives
Contains
No major allergens declared. Gluten-free.

How to use it

Empty 1 sachet into 1/2 cup (120ml) of whole milk. Heat over medium, whisking, until thick and steaming, about 2 minutes. Pour into a teacup and eat with a spoon. For a thinner drink, stop heating at 90 seconds.

The one we reach for when it's freezing outside.

Pairs with

From the recipe book.

Cook a

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The rest of the pantry

Questions

  • Why is it so thick?
    That is the cioccolata calda tradition. The corn starch sets the texture when heated. You eat it more than drink it. Serve in a small cup, use a spoon.
  • What makes it different from American hot chocolate?
    American hot chocolate is typically a thin, sweet drink. Cioccolata calda is thick enough to eat with a spoon and less sweet: the cocoa is the feature, not the sugar.
  • Can I adjust the thickness?
    Yes. More time on the heat equals thicker. Under 90 seconds equals drinkable. Start with half a cup of milk per sachet.
  • Is it dairy-free?
    Yes. No milk or dairy ingredients in the classic. The milk is what you add to prepare it.
  • Is it made from cocoa powder or melted chocolate?
    Cocoa powder (25%), corn starch, sugar, salt. The thickness comes from the starch, not from melted chocolate.
  • How long does it keep?
    Sealed sachets: cool, dry place, 12 or more months. Prepared: refrigerate and drink within 2-3 days.
  • Is the mix complete?
    Yes. Just add milk and heat.
  • How is this shipped?
    From our New York warehouse via Amazon fulfillment. In-stock orders ship in 1-2 business days. Free shipping over $75.
  • What if it arrives damaged or I don't love it?
    Write to us. We refund within 60 days, no questions.

Reviews

Six Italian regions. Nothing reformulated. Imported direct.