Consistency: Is it creamy, smooth, and satisfying to drink, or is it thin and watery?
Chocolate flavor: Does it taste like real chocolate, or does it taste artificial? Is the cocoa flavor rich and prominent, or weak and flat?
Sweetness: Does the sweetness complement the chocolate flavor? Is it balanced or overpowering? Does it leave a cloying aftertaste?
Fine Print
The Lineup: We tested 16 chocolate milks from the grocery, selecting both ready-to-drink options and instant mixes.
Why We’re Doing This: Chocolate milk hits different when you're a kid—everything is delicious, and you're not as discerning. But do your childhood favorites still hold up? We wanted to find out which brands are actually worth it, which ones ride on nostalgia, and whether there are underrated gems we've been missing.
How We Tasted: Each product was sampled at room temperature. Ready-to-drink brands were poured straight from the pack; powdered mixes were prepared with water following package instructions.
Blind Taste Test: All products were removed from their packaging, labeled, and tasted blind to prevent brand bias.
How We Scored: Each product was evaluated across 3 criteria. Final placements reflect the Pepper team’s averaged impressions.
Transparency: No brand paid for inclusion in this taste test. However, Arla, RFM, and Nestlé have been past advertising partners of Pepper.
