Sipping chocolates are not the same thing as drinking your typical mug of hot chocolate. The cacao tree produces beans that are used to make a variety of drinks – one of which was a sipping chocolate originally flavored with spices, wine, and chili peppers. A cup of hot cocoa is made with cocoa powder (which has the fat of cocoa butter pressed out of it), while sipping chocolates are made from real chocolate using the cocoa solids, which are then melted to create a creamy chocolate drink.
History of Sipping Chocolates
Sipping chocolates have a long history that traces back 3,000 years to the Mayan and Olmec civilizations of Central America when cacao was an important part of the culture. In 1528, the Spanish explorer Cortes introduced chocolate to the rest of the world after his Central American conquests. When he returned to Europe, he brought back cacao beans and samples of the Aztec chocolate drink.
In 1585, the first shipment of chocolate arrived in Spain. The Spaniards took the original recipes and started heating the mixtures while adding sugar to offset the natural bitterness of the drink. Instead of using chili peppers like the Mayans and Aztecs, the Europeans added cinnamon, vanilla and other spices.
In 1657, the first chocolate house in London was established – serving the drinking chocolate that became an instant hit with the upper class in Europe. The sweet treat became a luxury by the late 1600s. Around the same time that London delighted in the drinking chocolate, Dutch colonists brought the drink to North America.
Buy Sipping Chocolates
If you are interested in sampling the sipping chocolates of today, consider some of the following:
- Wiseman House Sipping Chocolate
- Black Dinah Chocolatiers – flavored with cinnamon, Ancho chile, and cardamom
- Caffe d’ Amore – offered in original, cherry, caramel, mint, and white chocolate
- Sipping Dreams – drinking chocolate bars (Original and Peppermint Snap) for do-it-yourself European-style beverages
Throughout northern Mediterranean countries, there is an orange or yellow-colored flower that grows. Also referred to as ‘marigold’ or ‘pot marigold,’ calendula has become a popular choice for tea drinkers, who consume the herbal blend for its taste and health benefits. In addition to providing a hot beverage, calendula is also used to add yellow coloring and flavor to foods, such as rice, soup, cereals, and even dessert.
When you’re craving the taste of Italy, you may want to consider making panna cotta (which translates into ‘cooked cream’) – a sweet treat generally associated with the Northern Italian region of Piermonte. This custard-like pudding dessert is made by simmering together cream, milk and sugar that is then mixed with gelatin. To get ideas of how to make and flavor your own, consider the following recipe:
Baklava is a sweet treat comprised of layers of butter-soaked phyllo dough, nuts, and cinnamon. The dessert is then baked and soaked in a tantalizing honey glaze. Around the world, baklava is a favorite. When making the dessert at home, prepare yourself for a challenge because dealing with the thin layers of phyllo dough is truly a hurdle you must master before enjoying this syrupy treat.
