We all know hot chocolate as the warm, rich drink we enjoy on a cold night by the fire, or after engaging in winter activities such as ice skating and skiing. But have you ever thought about this delicious beverage's origins? Hot chocolate's history goes quite a way back, and the drink has changed over the years, evolvingfrom cold and spicy to warm and sweet.
It Started in Mexico
As early as 500 BC, the Mayans were drinking chocolate made from ground-up cocoa seeds mixed with water, cornmeal, and chili peppers(as well as other ingredients)—a much different version from the hot chocolate we know today. They would mix the drink by pouring it back and forth from a cup to a pot until a thick foam developed, and then enjoy the beveragecold. Although the chocolate drink was available to all classes of people, the wealthy would drink it from large vessels with spouts, which later would be buried along with them.
Then Made its Way to Europe
In the early 1500s, the explorer Cortez brought cocoa beans and the chocolate drink-making tools to Europe.Although the drink still remained cold and bitter-tasting, it gained popularity and was adopted by the court of King Charles V as well as the Spanish upper class. After its introduction in Spain, the drink began to be served hot, sweetened, and without the chili peppers. The Spanish were very protective of their wonderful new beverage, and it was over a hundred years before news of it began to spread across Europe.
When it hit London in the 1700s, chocolate houses (similar to today's coffee shops) became popular and very trendy, even though chocolate was very expensive. In the late 1700s, the president of the Royal College of Physicians, Hans Sloane, brought from Jamaica a recipefor mixing chocolate with milk, which made the drink more palatable in his opinion. Well, others agreed andthe English started adding milk to their chocolate; it was then enjoyed as an after-dinner beverage.
Hot Chocolate Today
Up until the 19th century, hot chocolate was used as a treatment for stomach and liver diseases as well as a special drink. Today, however, we simply treat this warm concoction as a beverage to sip and savor. In America, hot chocolate is somewhat thin and often made by combining hot water with packets of powder, although you can find more authentic and gourmet varieties in restaurants and cafes. Other countries have their own versions—Spain's thickchocolate a la taza,spicedchocolate para mesafrom Latin America, and Italy'scioccolata calda, which is very thick.
Hot chocolate has become so popular in the United States that it is available in coffee vending machines. The powder is sold in packets and canisters, and coffee houses often have rich, somewhat thicker varieties on their menus.
The Evolution of Chocolate
It wasn't until the middle of the 18th century that chocolate began to evolve past its drinkable form. First, cocoa powder was invented in Holland, where the Dutch controlled nearly the entire cocoa bean trade. Since the cocoa powder blends much easier with milk or water, it allowed for more creations to come. Next came chocolate as a candy by mixing cocoa butter with sugar and in 1876, milk chocolate was developed. From then on, chocolate has become more popular as a solid treat rather than as the drink it started from.
Hot Chocolate Recipes
FAQs
According to The Sweet Story of Hot Chocolate! by Stephen Krensky, 3,500 years ago — long before coffee hit the scene — the Olmec people in Central America grew cacao beans. They would grind them up, mix them with water and other ingredients, and drink this as medicine or for special occasions.
Who first put marshmallows in hot chocolate? ›
Marshmallows first came into the picture in 1917, when the company Angelus Marshmallows published a recipe for hot cocoa topped with their product. (In another genius marketing move, the company also hitched its wagon to sweet potatoes with a recipe for the side dish that has since become a Thanksgiving staple.)
Where did chocolate originate? ›
The history of chocolate begins its 4,000 years of history in ancient Mesoamerica, present day Mexico and the birthplace of chocolate. It's here that the first cacao plants, the plant which chocolate is made from, were found.
What is the history of Spanish hot chocolate? ›
Spanish Royalty.
In the early 1500s, explorer Cortez presented cocoa beans to the court of King Charles V. Loved by royalty, the bitter drink was adapted. Chilli pepper was vetoed in favour of sugar. Cold drinking chocolate evolved into Spanish hot chocolate.
Did hot chocolate originate in Mexico? ›
A cocoa drink was an essential part of Aztec culture by 1400 AD, by which they referred to as xocōlātl. The drink became popular in Europe after being introduced from Mexico in the New World and has undergone multiple changes since then.
What plant does hot chocolate come from? ›
The chocolate in your steamy whipped cream-topped drink comes from an interesting fruit from a tree native to the tropical rainforest of Central America. The botanical name for this tropical tree is Theobroma cacao. Theobroma cacao translates into the “food of the gods.” It is known today as the chocolate tree.
Where was the drinking of hot chocolate a favorite? ›
The drink became popular in Europe after being brought from Mexico, and has changed a lot since then. Today, hot chocolate is used around the world. It comes in many different types such as the very thick cioccolata densa in Italy, and the thinner hot cocoa that is usually drunk in the United States.
What's the healthiest chocolate? ›
Dark chocolate is by far the healthiest form of the treat, containing the least sugar and, because of its cocoa content, higher levels of substances that protect the body's cells. If sugar is your number one concern, Allers recommends looking for higher percentages.
Which country is famous for chocolate? ›
The four top chocolate-producing countries are Germany, Belgium, Italy, and Poland. Belgium is one of the largest producers, and much of the chocolate is still made by hand.
Who was the first person to drink hot chocolate? ›
The roots of hot chocolate can be traced back to the ancient Mayan civilisation in the regions of present-day Mexico and Central America. Around 500 BC, the Mayans began cultivating cacao trees and discovered the pleasure of a drink made from its beans.
It makes sense to start with the country of origin for hot chocolate: Mexico. Mayans were the first culture to make a drink out of chocolate. However, it was much different than the beverage you're familiar with today. It was served cold and brewed like a beer for celebrations.
Why is Mexican hot chocolate so good? ›
Mexican hot chocolate includes various spices, including cinnamon, cloves, and ancho chili pepper. These ingredients give it a unique flavor that is sweet and slightly spicy.
How did the Aztecs drink chocolate? ›
Rather than eating chocolate as a solid, the Aztecs enjoyed chocolate as a frothy drink made from cocoa beans. It was used in a wide variety of important social events, from diplomatic alliances to marital negotiations.
Why did hot chocolate call themselves hot chocolate? ›
The band was originally named "Hot Chocolate Band" by Mavis Smith, who worked for the Apple Corps press office. This was quickly shortened first to "The Hot Chocolate" and then to "Hot Chocolate" by Mickie Most.
Was hot chocolate invented in Jamaica? ›
According to the Natural History Museum in Britain, that credit goes to Sir Hans Sloane, an Irish botanist. Sloane spent some time in Jamaica in the early 1700s, where the local people gave him cocoa to drink. “He found it 'nauseous' but by mixing it with milk made it more palatable," the museum says.
Why was chocolate used as medicine? ›
Chocolate paste was a medium used to administer drugs and to counter the taste of bitter pharmacological additives. In addition to cacao beans, preparations of cacao bark, oil (cacao butter), leaves and flowers have been used to treat burns, bowel dysfunction, cuts and skin irritations.
