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AIBU?

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Original poster

To give Hotel Chocolate as a present

235 replies

Connected1 · 28/11/2025 20:41

Earlier there was a thread about a work raffle where people donated prizes. The OP mentioned Hotel Chocolate as being one of those "junk presents" that people would donate.

I'm feeling a bit sheepish as I would have bought it online to send as presents to friends in UK (I don't live there myself).

What do people think?
IABU - It's got a bit of a crap reputation
IANBU - It's a premium brand that you'd be glad to get as a present.

OP posts:
Original poster
Connected1 · 28/11/2025 23:28

Yes they're actually lovely, I've tried them.

But at the same time Aldi chocs wouldn't have much cachet as a gift, if you know what I mean. In the sense that you wouldn't arrange to have them delivered to someone's door.

Edit: that was a reply to @RedToothBrush and the post about Aldi chocs.

OP posts:
Butchyrestingface · 28/11/2025 23:16

I bought it as an 80th birthday present for a relative earlier this year.

I've always been a bit basic though.

francy99 · 28/11/2025 23:16

I would be happy to receive Hotel Chocolat. There chocolate doesn’t contain palm oil (although added biscuits and other added ingredients may contain it). It’s getting harder and harder to find chocolate with no palm oil in it.

NET145 · 28/11/2025 23:14

its delicious!!! Would love it

BestZebbie · 28/11/2025 23:14

It is the niche that Thornton's used to have, right?
The standard high street "gift" chocolate - so a perfectly acceptable gift because that is the entire purpose of the chain, but you could find fancier chocolates if you wanted to stand out (but then you are probably getting into handmade ones which are OTT for most "also we need to bring something in case Aunty Glenda is there" gifting).

ChocolateCinderToffee · 28/11/2025 23:02

It’s not my favourite but I wouldn’t be insulted by it.

LadyGAgain · 28/11/2025 22:54

It’s mediocre chocolate at premium prices so doesn’t get my vote.

Spacesthatsing · 28/11/2025 22:52

CautiousLurker2 · 28/11/2025 22:31

Me too. At £30 a 335g box I consider it a treat!!

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I'd consider it a waste of money. The cost of something doesn't always indicate the quality.

Limered · 28/11/2025 22:49

I would say it’s just about acceptable - but bordering on shit now. Like any premium chocolate - over the years it becomes commodified

GingerPaste · 28/11/2025 22:44

I really like it too.

EmeraldRoulette · 28/11/2025 22:38

@Connected1 that poster was making a joke on several levels

I didn't get it either

But some people find that kind of thing hilarious

Anyway, chocolate has gone incredibly downhill in quality which is probably just as well for me as I think it might have helped me to lose weight!

But I still love Hotel Chocolat and would be delighted to get it as a present. They did a mini Christmas wreath last year and somebody gave me that as a present. Honestly, it was some of the best chocolate I've ever tasted. I was looking at the ingredients trying to figure out if they sell that specific one, but I suspect it was just a blend for the wreath design.

I used to work near one and we all used to go in after Christmas, Valentines and Easter, in order to stock up!

ThinIceSkater · 28/11/2025 22:35

BaalSatanas · 28/11/2025 22:29

HC is far superior to anything available in a UK supermarket imho

The Hotel Chocolat hot chocolate sachets are now available in Tesco.

Just in case it's useful to anyone.

UnctuousUnicorns · 28/11/2025 22:34

EchoedSilence · 28/11/2025 20:42

MN is full of snobs. I'd take no notice.

☝️ Ain't that the truth.

LaurieFairyCake · 28/11/2025 22:34

I really dislike it now, tastes oily and I think the ingredients are very cheap

when it first started it was lovely. Mind, so was dairy milk 30 years ago

Judellie · 28/11/2025 22:32

Not keen myself but they seem to do more hot chocolate than chocolate and I don't like hot chocolate. But hey, I love Thorntons and Black Magic and Lindor chocolates and nobody here seems to like those much. I miss the Thorntons shops and their great marzipan bars and coffee creams.
Everyone's different, I suppose

Sunshineo · 28/11/2025 22:32

I’ve never tried it, I thought it had a good reputation?

CautiousLurker2 · 28/11/2025 22:31

PicaK · 28/11/2025 20:42

I love hotel chocolate. I didn't know it was naff!

Me too. At £30 a 335g box I consider it a treat!!

BaalSatanas · 28/11/2025 22:29

HC is far superior to anything available in a UK supermarket imho

FateAmenableToChange · 28/11/2025 22:29

It's mostly awful low cocoa low quality overly sugary chocolate. The chocolate covered cherries were very nice , but then the last one I had was all dry. So I don't buy that anymore. Aldi Moser Roth chocolate is better.

Eyelashesoffire · 28/11/2025 22:27

I saw that post as well, I was quite surprised! Seemed very snobby. I've been very happy in the past to get HC, though admittedly I haven't had any recently. I hope they haven't gone too far downhill.

Thechaseison71 · 28/11/2025 22:27

Fountofwisdom · 28/11/2025 21:56

Are you in the UK? Order from HC’s website, not through Amazon. A box of 10 hot chocolate sachets costs about £15 direct and will come in the correct branded box. Sounds strange that Amazon should send them in a plain box, were they even the genuine product?

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It's the top box here. There was a white insert but no "nice" box. The £23 was for 20 sachets looking at it.

Not to worry I will find a nice box and add marshmallows and chocolate flakes

To give Hotel Chocolate as a present
Shedeboodinia · 28/11/2025 22:24

Weird as it's nice. I like their chocolates.

deathbyprocrastination · 28/11/2025 22:14

Jeez, I had no idea Hotel Chocolat snobbery was a thing. Hedonic adaptation innit: cadburys then HC then prestat etc and whatever was previously a treat becomes sneered at.

OP I'd be delighted to receive it as a gift

nauticant · 28/11/2025 22:14

I put £40 of HC chocolate in the post for family members in the week and I've been getting very nice "thank you"s by text since. If I was the recipient I'd be pleased as well.

RedToothBrush · 28/11/2025 22:13

They do a blue box and a green box of slightly different chocolates to pick from.

Given how much Hotel Chocolat have gone up in price in the last couple of years, I find it hard to justify getting the real deal

(a £45 box in 2020 is now £80).

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