CityFood Magazine - Mink's Lavender and Grand Marnier-infused HC

It was a Pantone PMS264 kind of day. The late afternoon light had a distinct blue-ish cast, the label on our cup of Mink's hot chocolate was lightly mauve and the drink inside it was tinged with lavender flowers. In other words, there was a purple-y sort of vibe going on.

Mood ring and aura experts say that purple indicates you are in love. Well, we wouldn't go that far, but we were definitely feeling happy, and that was appropriate because according to the slogan of the Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival, it's chocolate that puts you in that blissful state of mind ... so it must have been the drink. And this one was a beauty.

To confess, not being fond of floral flavours, we hadn't been keen on the idea of lavender in our chocolate - fearing it would be just too Laura Ashley.

On the contrary, Mink Chocolates' special concoction for the festival, Hot Chocolate with Organic French Lavender-infused Grand Marnier, turned out to be the most urbane and sophisticated hot chocolate we've encountered yet.

Rather than heavily perfume the chocolate, both the lavender and the Grand Marnier were only lightly perceptible, adding a note of mystery in keeping with the reflective time of day. The medium-bodied, creamy drink was sweet, but only modestly so.

Normally Mink would serve this in a tall ceramic white mug, but thanks to the after work rush, they had run out of china and were down to paper cups. The fact that most of their customers were businessmen in dark suits was somewhat surprising as well. There were four sitting at the next table to us, briefcases and laptops tucked under their chairs, all of them drinking hot chocolate.

Not quite the picture of ladies in pearls and sweater sets we had imagined.

The Lavender-infused Grand Marnier is only one of the flavours Mink has created for the festival and it's available while the supply lasts. Check here for the complete list. Unfortunately for fans, they sold out of the Champagne Truffle Hot Chocolate early on.

Partial proceeds from the Festival drinks go to support the Dixon Transitional House, aiding women and children on Vancouver's East Side who are fleeing domestic abuse.