Cold weather makes me crave hot chocolate. It is a warm and soothing drink. But, where does it come from and what is the difference between hot chocolate and cocoa? I did some investigating.
Hot chocolate has its origins in Latin America. A bitter chocolate drink was consumed by the Mayans as early as 500 BC and introduced to Spanish explorer, Hernán Cortés, by the Aztecs some 2,000 years later. It was not warm or soothing. The drink has gone through multiple changes since then and many regional variations. As for terminology, the difference between hot chocolate and cocoa is the type of chocolate used – hot chocolate is made from a grated chocolate bar and cocoa from the powder of ground cocoa beans. Cocoa also does not contain cocoa butter. Both are mixed with hot milk or water and sugar to make similarly tasting hot drinks.
The recipe below is for an American-style chocolatey drink (by contrast, Italian hot chocolate is so thick it can be eaten with a spoon). It combines hot chocolate and cocoa into one recipe. I came across it on the Smitten Kitchen website. It makes a great gift for friends and family and an even better treat for yourself.
Recipe below.