All in Germany

Rheinburg Kakao Milch-Drink

Quite a different experience— it’s salty first, earthy second, chocolaty third. The first sip might shock you, the second will be better— expect it to plateau after the 4th. It dries out your mouth, imploring you to drink more. Your tastebuds may begrudgingly acquiesce, depending on your salt threshold.

Immergut Kakao

Watery and has a fortified taste to it— sort of ‘tinny’ or mineraly. Feels unnatural when it hits the back of the throat. It’s a less-flavorful YooHoo, and probably belongs in metal and not glass.

Gropper Schokogeschmack

If blindfolded, most people would identify this as eggnog. Very strong noggy flavor (to an almost boozy extent), it just comes as a shock when expecting chocolate milk. It’s sweet as heck, and has tons of flavor, just in the wrong direction.

Nestle Nesquik Trinkfertig (Germany)

Decently creamy for relatively low fat, the German version is much preferred to the more southern-European Nesquiks that contain cinnamon. This tastes like a decently well-rounded chocolate milk that (blindly) I would not have associated with the Nesquik brand. The thickness feels artificial though.

Hochwald Eisschoko (Box)

Chalky and a bit malty, but after each sip, the sides of my tongue want to create saliva— like your mouth is watering. Can’t say that is an appetizing image for anyone, but it’s truthful nonetheless. Taste is ok, but there will usually be a better option in your dairy case.

Schwälbchen Haltbarer Kakao

Considerably more bland than the whole milk version— what happened to all the taste? There’s very little to move the needle in any convincing direction. The sweetness, salt, and cocoa seem to be competing for who can be the least prominent. Not gross or anything, but just boring.

Schwälbchen Frischer Kakao

Overflowing with flavor— strong notes of cocoa, cream, sweetness, and especially salt. Perhaps just a bit too strong on the salty and sweet levers, which pains me to say (because it works pretty well here). The sweetness has a slight syrupy quality.