You know what time it is: A Month of Faves time! Last year I didn’t even think about this challenge because my dad got sick (he’s doing better now), so I was scattered. But this time! I am here and ready to get into all of the fun of the holiday season, including this challenge. (I’m going to do my best to post this before midnight.) (I’ll be honest at the end about what time I finish.) (It’s currently 11:30 p.m.)

Today’s topic is Favorite Holiday Eats, Treats, or Drinks and, shocking no one, I have definite opinions. Tonight, though I’m going to talk about one treat in particular: red velvet hot cocoa from Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

Here’s the thing. I love when coffee shops bring out their holiday drinks. I don’t drink coffee, but there’s always something fun that I’m willing to try. (Also, did you know you can order coffee drinks without coffee? I think they call it steamed something something. Just ask for no coffee and they’ll do what needs doing. Because yes I want the holiday flavor but I don’t want the taste of coffee behind it.) Peppermint hot chocolate, gingerbread some such, etc. I’m going to talk about the red velvet hot cocoa, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Coffee Bean’s Winter Dream Tea Latte tastes exactly the way Christmas smells. I think the barista described it to me that way the first time I tried it, and he was right. That’s really the only way to describe it, honestly. I can’t explain it much more than that. I like it because it reminds me of Christmas (my favorite holiday, obviously) and also it’s tea so I don’t even have to minus the coffee from the equation. But I digress.

So, yes, the red velvet hot cocoa from Coffee Bean. The first time I had it, I was flying somewhere and I was starving so had to grab something from the coffee place, saw the cocoa and ordered it. When I sipped it, it was like drinking a hug. A hug! I don’t think I have ever experienced that feeling before or since. A hug!

Obviously, every holiday season since that first time, I went to my neighborhood Coffee Bean and got one. (I tried an iced one once–do not recommend. It has to be warm for the hug effect.) And then one year, I went into the shop and they didn’t have one. I, of course, wanted to know why it wasn’t listed on the board. The barista told me it wasn’t one of the flavors for the season! I was AGHAST. “What do you mean?” I asked. “The one drink I actually LOOK FORWARD TO is not a thing?”

Alas, it is not. But! They sell the powder on the website. I know because I bought two tins the year before last because I couldn’t go another December without having my liquid hug. In fact, I need to brew up some tomorrow, for sure.

GASP. As I went to add the links to this post, I discovered they don’t even sell it online anymore. I am bereft (but also glad I have some leftover from last Christmas because WHAT IF I DIDN’T? My whole Christmas might have been ruined.)

I’m only slightly exaggerating.

But also WHAT ABOUT NEXT CHRISTMAS???

I need a lie down. I’m glad I have a whole year to prepare for not having it AT ALL anymore. Sob.

(Okay it’s 11:54 so rather than fool around trying to make a graphic for this post, I’m just going to use what I have and then press post.)