Hot chocolate ❤
One of the best things about being out in the cold is coming inside to hot chocolate ..
But what wonderful culture brought us this delicious beverage that warms us from out toes to our fingertips and has the ability to calm our souls and radiate that oh so slight feeling of euphoria.
Was it Nose, travelers of the icy seas? The Laplanders who outlast the midnight sun?
No, and no. It was mysterious peoples from the jungles of Mesoamerica.
Hot chocolate ? In a jungle ? Well, not exactly, but everything starts somewhere, and hot chocolate started out cold,with no milk,sugar, whipped cream,or mini marshmallows.
Raven Cape
Originally chocolate wasn't even chocolate, not as we know it today .the seed,or bean,from which chocolate is derived comes from the cacao tree, or theobroma theobroma is a scientific name meaning "food of the gods" ,Which is what the ancient people of mesoamerica thought of the cacao tree, but the word cacao itself comes from both the Mayan word kakaw and the Aztec word cacahuatl, both of which have the meaning "bitter water"
The first to harvest the trees were the Olmecs, most likely the oldest civilization in both American continent, way back over 3,000 years ago. Not only was cacao valued as a drink, but the beans were often used as a form of currency.
The original cacao drink wasn't even sweet but bitter and spicy. The Mayan word xocoatl,which became the Mexican native word chocolatl, means"foam water ", and refers to the practice the Mayans had of pouring the liquid back and forth , sometimes from great heights, until the drink was very frothy . but there was no sugar in the Americas, chilli pepper ,cinnamon, vanilla and sometimes cornmeal were added to flavor the cacao drink.
At this point chocolate is the drink that the most people crave. Art and literature in France if full of erotic imagery inspired by the aphrodisiac nature of chocolate. In London the finer Coffee houses start serving chocolate hot, and some establishment open serving nothing but "this excellent west India drink.
Later in that century the president of England's Royal college of physicians, a one Mr Hans solane ,visited Jamaica, he tried the chocolate drink and found it " nauseous" .
What in the world did his countrymen see in this drink ? Perhaps if mixed with a little of milk ,to lessen the strength.. And milk chocolate has born
It seems all over Europe people are drinking chocolate and making improvements. In the Netherlands ,in 1828 ,Coenreaad Johannes van houten came up with a process to separate cocoa butter from cocoa powder. The cocoa powder is much easier to stir with water and milk , and by mixing back in a small amount of cocoa butter, it is easier to press it into bars. Chocolate bars! Now there is distinction between chocolate- the candy and the hot chocolate.
Today, the international varieties of hot chocolate is a diverse as the countries themselves. The traditional North American drink is instant, made from cocoa powder ,sugar and dry milk.
Remember ,hot chocolate was brought to America by the Dutch, who invented cocoa powder.
Add some mini marshmallows and whipped cream, and you have the makings of a wonderful afternoon.
The recipe for today is : spicy hot chocolate
The ingredients:
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 to 2 tablespoons of agave syrup
Pinch of salt
Pinch of hot chilli powder
2 cups of goat milk or cow milk whole fat
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Marshmallows
Whipped cream
Whisk together the cocoa powder, sugar, salt ,hot chilli powder,and about half cup of milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until cocoa and sugar are dissolved.
Whisk in the rest of the milk and heat it over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until it is Hot. Stir and serve with marshmallows and whipped cream on the top of the mug
If you like it frothy ,blend it in the blender
This recipe multiple easily.when you get up to a quart of milk ,use 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
Bon appetit!
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