Land O Lakes Arctic White Hot Cocoa Mix, 6 Packets

Arctic White is a white cocoa rather than a chocolate one. Where a standard mix is built on roasted cocoa, this one leans on nonfat milk and creamy white chocolate flavor, so the cup comes up pale ivory and mild, rounded with vanilla warmth instead of the darker edge people expect from hot chocolate. It suits the drinker who orders a white mocha at the coffee counter, and households where tastes at the mug differ.

The box holds six individually sealed single-serve packets, each portioned for a standard mug, and the milk is already in the powder, so hot water is all it asks of you. That format is why these travel well: a few in a desk drawer, a dorm room, a camp box or the glovebox for cold mornings.

It also takes well to building on, whether that means a shot of espresso stirred through, a candy cane broken into the mug in December, or a cup made up strong and poured over ice.