Hot chocolate is a beverage typically consisting of milk, chocolate or cocoa powder, and sugar. It became popular in Europe after being introduced from the New World.
History
The first users of cacao were most likely the Olmecs, a Native American people of Mesoamerica and the oldest civilization of The Americas (1500-400 BC). Later, the Maya civilization consumed cacao-based drinks made with beans from their plantations in the Chontalpa region of present-day Tabasco, Mexico. They created a drink which in Nahuatl was called "xocolatl" (xococ, bitter atl, water), the "x" being an archaic Spanish phoneme with a similar pronunciation as the modern English "sh". This drink was made from roasted cocoa beans, water, and a little spice. Cocoa beans were also used as a currency.
Following the European "discovery" of America, Christopher Columbus returned from the New World with cocoa beans, but the Europeans favored other, more practical trade goods. However, in 1517 Hernn Corts landed on the Mexican coast near Veracruz. He made his way to Tenochtitlan to see the famed riches of Emperor Moctezuma and the Aztec empire.
Montezuma introduced Hernn Corts to his favourite drink, "chocolatl", which he served in a golden goblet. "The chocolatl was a potation of chocolate flavored with vanilla and spices, and so prepared as to be reduced to a froth of the consistency of honey, which gradually dissolved in the mouth and was taken cold."[1] Moctezuma consumed his "chocolatl" in goblets before entering his harem, leading to the belief that it was an aphrodisiac.
Corts returned to Spain in 1528 with galleons loaded with cocoa beans and chocolate drink making equipment. The court of King Charles V soon adopted it, and "chocolate" became a fashionable drink popular with the Spanish upper class. Additionally, cocoa was given as a dowry when members of the Spanish Royal Family married other European aristocrats. It took nearly a century for chocolate to achieve popularity throughout Europe, as the Spanish kept the delicacy secret.
Development
Drinking chocolate was originally a cold mixture of ground cocoa beans and water with the addition of spices such as cayenne pepper, pimento, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla. The ancients drank it from large bowls so they could take in all of its aromas. By the time it was introduced to Europe, the more pungent spices in the drink were replaced with cane sugar and it was served hot instead of cold.
After being introduced in England, milk was added to the after dinner treat. By the 18th Century, so-called "Chocolate Houses" were as popular as coffee houses. The first "Chocolate House" opened in London in 1657. Because it was so expensive, hot chocolate was considered a drink for the elite.
"Hot chocolate" is a retronym and the drink was originally simply called "chocolate". The subsequent popularity of "chocolate bar" forced the invention of the term "hot chocolate" to distinguish it from "chocolate" which now means "bar chocolate".
By 1828, the first cocoa powder producing machine had been developed in The Netherlands, which generated a less acidic, more processed cocoa, now known as dutch-process cocoa. The new form of cocoa was easier to blend with warm milk or water.
Americans began using the terms "hot chocolate" and "hot cocoa" interchangeably, obscuring the considerable difference between the two. True hot chocolate is made with dark, semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces and stirred into milk.
A modern American concept is the addition of marshmallows to hot chocolate. Some packaged hot cocoa mixes come with small dry marshmallows.
Place in modern society
Today hot chocolate is consumed throughout the world. It is especially popular in New England during the winter, where it is made to accompany large snowstorms. Hot chocolate is also popular throughout Europe.
In Spain, hot chocolate and churros was the traditional working-man's breakfast. This spanish style of hot chocolate is very thick, having the consistency of warm chocolate pudding. Due to the high fat content of this meal, it has fallen out of favor with the more sedentary lifestyles of the urban age.
