Putting The Spice in Hot Chocolate

Courtesy of pausestill

We all know what hot chocolate is – essentially, chocolate in a cup (otherwise known as pure genius!)

Believed to have originated nearly 2000 years ago with the ancient Mayans, hot chocolate has since been introduced to Europe and North America, and popularized all over the globe.

Delicious frothy and soothing hot cocoa is mostly drank for pleasure. It tantalizes the taste buds. It comforts and warms. It treats and delights. It is all around wonderful just the way it is except…there are so many often unexplored possibilities lingering in a single cup of hot chocolate that it sinks the heart of a true chocolate connoisseur.

Don’t get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a good old-fashioned hot chocolate mix, and often it’s easiest to pour from a package and stir.  But you need not bundle up and venture down the street to a fancy coffee shop in order to procure a mug of delectable exotic chocolaty goodness.  All you need are the right ingredients and a sense of adventure.

AZTEC CHILI HOT CHOCOLATE RECIPE

This sweet and spicy recipe needs only a handful of ingredients.  (The following measurements are made to serve 2.)

Courtesy of HungryHuy.com

• 1 2/3 cups of milk of choice — 2%, skim, soy, whatever you like
• 1 red chili pepper, split down the middle with the seeds removed
• 1/2 vanilla bean powder
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 1/2 oz chocolate — bittersweet works best, but feel free to add more than the designated amount, 1 1/2 oz isn’t a rule or anything

How to Make:

• gently simmer the milk in a saucepan along with the vanilla bean powder, chili pepper and cinnamon stick
• allow to warm at a moderate heat for a few minutes, making sure to stir frequently
• in the meantime, grate the chocolate, then add to milk mixture
• continue simmering until melted
• remove from heat and leave to sit for approximately 10 minutes (this allows the flavours to better steep together, creating a richer mixture)
• finally, strain out the spices and serve

Coutesy of pjf@cpan

If you want to put an extra special twist on chili hot chocolate, decorate with with chocolate and red drizzles, and who could forget the classic signature left only by a handful of marshmallows.

Then sit, relax, savour and allow yourself to travel back in time to the dawn of a mouth-watering dessert beverage.