We are slowly but surely saying goodbye to winter ❄️. Morning mists are becoming rarer, the sun's rays are longer 🌞, but cold evenings still call us to warm drinks. And there is one that we all love - hot chocolate .
The last cold days are the perfect excuse to indulge in one last winter treat. But have you ever wondered where cocoa actually comes from? Who discovered it and how it has become one of the most prized raw materials in the world throughout history? 🤔 Today we delve deeper into the story of cocoa, hot chocolate and its spread around the world.
How did it all begin? The discovery of the cocoa tree 🌱
It all starts deep in the tropical jungles of Central America 🌎, where over 3,000 years ago, the Mayans and Aztecs cultivated the cocoa tree and used it in a completely different way than today.
🍃 The Mayans (around 1000 BC) believed that cocoa was of divine origin, so they prepared a bitter, foamy drink from it, adding chili 🌶️, vanilla, and spices.
⚔️ The Aztecs (14th–16th centuries) called the drink “xocoatl” , which means “bitter water”. They believed that it gave them strength and endurance, so it was mainly consumed by warriors before battles.
In 1502 , Christopher Columbus first brought cocoa beans to Europe , but they didn't pay much attention to it. It wasn't until the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés , who brought cocoa from Mexico in 1528 , that Europe truly revolutionized. When the Spanish added sugar and cinnamon 🍯, hot chocolate became a luxury drink that quickly spread throughout European courts 👑.
The first solid chocolate, as we know it today, was not made until the 19th century , when a process was developed to separate cocoa butter from cocoa powder - which enabled the creation of chocolate bars 🍫 and creamy chocolate drinks.
Chocolate around the world: drink or dessert? 🍫🌍
Although hot chocolate was once the only way to consume cocoa, its meaning has changed somewhat with the development of chocolate products. Today, chocolate is more popular as a dessert than a beverage in most of the world , but there are exceptions:
• 🇮🇹 Italy – Hot chocolate is thick like pudding and often served with a croissant 🥐.
• 🇪🇸 Spain – Dark, thick chocolate served with churros 🍩.
• 🇲🇽 Mexico – Spiced with cinnamon, vanilla and chili 🌶️.
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland – Creamy, milky, with lots of cream 🍦.
• 🇫🇷 France – Elegant, rich and slightly sweet 🍷.
Cocoa or hot chocolate – what's the difference? 🤔
A question often arises: Aren't cocoa and hot chocolate the same thing? Not quite!
☕ Cocoa – Made from defatted cocoa powder , which is simply mixed with milk or water. It has a more intense, bitter taste and contains less fat.
🍫 Hot Chocolate – Made from real chocolate, which contains cocoa butter , it is creamier, richer and fuller in flavor. Real hot chocolate is not made from cocoa powder , but from melted chocolate!
If you want the ultimate experience, always choose the right hot chocolate . 😍
How to make the perfect cup of hot chocolate?
💡 The easiest recipe – making our hot chocolate:
1️⃣ Pour the contents of each sachet into 120 ml of cold milk .
2️⃣ Place on the stove and stir until boiling .
3️⃣ Continue heating until desired thickness .
4️⃣ For thicker chocolate, reduce the amount of milk, for thinner chocolate, increase it .
Enjoy real hot chocolate – creamy, rich and perfect for the last days of winter! 🤎
Hot chocolate is not just a drink - it's a tradition, an indulgence, and the perfect way to warm up during the last days of winter. 🔥