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<\/p>\nTHE temperature outside has well and truly dropped, which means its time for one thing – festive hot drinks. <\/p>\n
All the major chains including Starbucks and Costa release their Christmas menu at this time each year.<\/p>\n
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Every year they battle it out for the most popular festive drinks, introducing new flavours and bringing back familiar favourites. <\/p>\n
The Christmas menus tend to stick around for a couple of months at most before they're replaced. <\/p>\n
Each chain dropped their offering last week and I was keen to give them a go. <\/p>\n
I decided to put the drinks to the test, choosing two from each brand's menu to try.<\/p>\n
To keep things fair and as similar as possible, I chose a latte and a hot chocolate option from each. <\/p>\n I tried to pick all-new drinks and others which have been on the menu before but I hadn't tasted.<\/p>\n All the drinks are available at the moment nationwide and you can find your nearest branch of each chain using the locator tools on their websites. <\/p>\n Here's what I thought of the festive hot drinks, I gave each a rating out of five on taste. <\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Up first was the McDonald's McCafe drinks. <\/p>\n There are two on offer this winter a latte and a hot chocolate, both with Galaxy chocolate. <\/p>\n I tried the Galaxy Caramel Latte first and on the first sip I found it pretty bland. <\/p>\n It's a regular\u00a0Maccies\u00a0latte blended with Galaxy caramel syrup, topped with caramel cream and chocolate stars.<\/p>\n There were hints of Galaxy but not masses of flavour, and virtually no caramel taste at all. <\/p>\n It tasted largely of weak coffee and could have benefitted from a bit more sweetness. <\/p>\n A regular costs \u00a32.69 and a large will set you back \u00a33.29.<\/p>\n Next up was the Galaxy Caramel Hot Chocolate which was definitely not lacking in sweetness. <\/p>\n This came mainly from the strong caramel flavour, again, there wasn't much taste of the iconic chocolate bar. <\/p>\n The drink has the Galaxy's caramel syrup mixed through a Maccies hot chocolate and topped with the caramel cream and chocolate stars.<\/p>\n It was a fairly decent size, the tallest of all the drinks I tried and was enjoyable but I'd have liked more of a Galaxy flavour.<\/p>\n The hot choc is \u00a32.19 and comes in just one size.<\/p>\n The drinks launched on November 1, and are here for the long run, they'll be coming off the menu on February 6, 2024.<\/p>\n Last year the fast-food chain brought out its Caramel Waffle Latte for the first time, and brought back its Hot Chocolate Deluxe.<\/p>\n The second lot of drinks I tried were from Starbucks which is known for its popular festive treats. <\/p>\n This year the chain introduced just one new drink, the Hazelnut Crunch Hot Chocolate. <\/p>\n Each of the other items have been seen on the menu before, so I chose the Caramel Waffle Latte which I missed out on last year.<\/p>\n I tried the chocolate drink first and was instantly intrigued by the smell which reminded me of Ferrero Rocher chocolates. <\/p>\n It tasted pretty similar to them too, with a really strong nutty flavour.<\/p>\n It's made with cocoa powder, steamed creamy milk, finished with a chocolate cream and crunchy chocolate hazelnut topping.\u00a0<\/p>\n It wasn't hugely sweet, which I had expected it to be.<\/p>\n Prices for the hot chocolate start at \u00a34.25 for a tall size.<\/p>\n The Caramel Waffle Latte did exactly what it says on the tin, it tasted and smelt just like Stroop Waffles. <\/p>\n It's essentially a latte with a waffle sauce, it is topped with caramel whipped cream and a spiced caramel waffle crunch topping.<\/p>\n It was massively sweet though and I'm not sure I'd even be able to finish a whole cup.<\/p>\n As someone who likes her coffee, I was a bit disappointed that it didn't have much of a coffee taste at all – it was more like a warm caramel drink. <\/p>\n The latte will set you back upwards of \u00a34.30.<\/p>\n It's the third time the waffle-flavoured drink has hit Starbucks menus in recent years, while 2022 also saw the introduction of the Praline Cookie Hot Chocolate.<\/p>\n Costa is treating its customers to several new drinks this festive season. <\/p>\n I opted to give the Sticky Toffee Latte and the Roasted Hazelnut Hot Chocolate a go. <\/p>\n I went in with high hopes that the latte could be this year's replacement for my favourite Gingerbread latte from Costa.<\/p>\n It wasn't quite as I expected, I didn't feel it tasted much of sticky toffee pudding, more a generic caramel sweetness.<\/p>\n The drink had a much stronger taste of coffee than the Starbucks offering, which mixed well with the flavours. <\/p>\n Overall I found it to be tasty but not quite as nice as I'd hoped it would be.<\/p>\n At the opposite end of the scale, I did not expect much from the hot chocolate as I rarely go for the beverage at Costa. <\/p>\n I was happy to be proved wrong though, the hazelnutty drink tasted just like Nutella in a cup. <\/p>\n The winter warmer is filled with roasted hazelnut syrup and topped with cream and mini gold stars.<\/p>\n It was sweeter than Starbucks' similar drink but with a more subtle nutty taste, while still flavourful. <\/p>\n That being said, I wouldn't be able to have a large one as it did get a bit sickly after a while.<\/p>\n Prices for both the sticky toffee and roasted hazel drinks start from \u00a33.95.<\/p>\n Last year fans were overjoyed when Costa brought out a Toblerone latte for Christmas.<\/p>\n The Caffe Nero winter menu offers a total of five new items this year.<\/p>\n Among the stars of this year's offering are the Panettone Latte and the Millionaire's Hot Chocolate. <\/p>\n I had heard good things about the new latte so was intrigued to give it a go. <\/p>\n It's said to be inspired by the classic Milanese Christmas cake, panettone, with sweet bakery flavours, mixed with coffee, and finished off with a citrusy zest.<\/p>\n It definitely does taste similar to the flavours of a pannetone cake -sweet but with a slight lemony taste too.<\/p>\n I found it was lacking a bit in coffee, and the overall taste was a bit burnt – though it did grow on me with each sip. <\/p>\n Next up was the Millionaire's Hot Chocolate, which I had been really looking forward to trying. <\/p>\n As soon as I took the lid off I was hit with a sickly sweet smell of caramel, which made me a little apprehensive. <\/p>\n Turns out I was right, the drink is extremely sweet, thanks to the double dose of caramel mixed with hot chocolate. <\/p>\n It combines a rich caramel syrup, topped with a chocolate cream and hefty drizzle of caramel sauce – a bit overkill. <\/p>\n The hot drink would be perfect for those with a sweet tooth, but for me a few sips was enough.<\/p>\n Both drinks are available at Caffe Nero for around \u00a34.30.<\/p>\n Last year's Caffe Nero menu saw the intorduction of the Cinnamon Swirl Latte and the Luxury Black Forest Mocha.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/business-shops-food-greggs-pie-804628174-1.jpg\")
<\/picture>BAKE OFF <\/span><\/p>\nGreggs reveals Xmas menu including return of popular bake and all-new drinks<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/close-j-d-wetherspoon-pub-813379840.jpg\")
<\/picture>TUCK IN <\/span><\/p>\nWetherspoons reveals Christmas menu including dinner with all the trimmings<\/h3>\n
Most read in Money<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/rahbyd-shelves-various-candies-chocolate-846987840.jpg\")
<\/picture>CHOC SHOCK <\/span><\/p>\nFan favourite Christmas chocolate set to go missing from shelves<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/newspress-collage-24573872-1698679838887.webp?strip=all&w=300&h=192&crop=1\"\/)
<\/picture>CASHING OUT <\/span><\/p>\nTesco shoppers ‘absolutely gutted’ as supermarket axes savings scheme<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/VP-JOHN-LEWIS_COMP.jpg\")
<\/picture>FESTIVE FAIL? <\/span><\/p>\nFans divided over new John Lewis ad – as some moan that ‘Christmas is ruined’<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/newspress-collage-24680932-1699525921034.jpg\")
<\/picture>CHOC GONE <\/span><\/p>\nNestle discontinues another iconic chocolate bar after 60 years<\/h3>\n
McDonald's <\/h2>\n
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10<\/span>![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Untitled-design-9.png\")
10<\/span>Starbucks<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nCosta<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nCaffe Nero<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nRead More on The Sun<\/h2>\n
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