“Brrrrrr……it’s so cold outside.” I don’t know about you, but I’ve been saying that a lot lately.
Luckily, no matter how cold it gets outside, there’s one thing that always warms me up…..a big mug of hot chocolate! Seriously, is there anything more comforting than a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter morning? I think not.
While I’ll always have fond memories of the sugary hot chocolate I drank as a kid, my tastes have changed and the recipe I’m loving now is actually based on a chocolate drink that originated in the Maya society thousands of years ago.
The Mayans were among the earliest people to consume chocolate and many believe that their Xocolatl or “bitter drink” was the first hot chocolate recipe. And all these years I thought Hershey’s invented hot chocolate…lol.
In order to create their infamous elixir, the Mayans would grind cacao beans into a paste and then combine the paste with hot water, chilies, vanilla, and some spices. Since they did not have any way to cultivate sugar, there was no sweetener in the traditional recipe.
Once the mixture was combined, it was poured back and forth between two containers so that the natural fats of the chocolate would create a thick layer of foam on top of the drink. When the foam appeared, the frothy, spicy and slightly bitter drink was ready.
While the history of hot chocolate is as rich as its flavor, I have to admit I knew nothing about it’s true origin. It wasn’t until I read an article by Nick Polizzi, founder of Sacred Science, that I learned about the tradition and the recipe I’m sharing with you today.
If you want to make an authentic Xocolatl, the way the Mayans did, you would use all water instead of milk, leave out the honey and serve it cold. I have to warn you though, you might not want to drink it that way. I’ve tried it and it’s pretty bitter. 🙁
Maya Hot Chocolate Recipe
1 cup raw organic goat or cow milk (I use almond milk)
2 tbsp. raw cacao powder
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground chili powder
1-2 tbsp. honey
*In a small bowl, stir together the cacao powder and spices.
*Adding a small amount of milk, whisk into a paste.
*In a saucepan, heat the remaining milk over medium heat, making sure to remove just before boiling.
*Slowly add the paste to the saucepan and simmer until slightly thickened.
*Pour into a mug, add honey to desired sweetness and enjoy!
I hope you’ll give this recipe a try. There’s nothing quite like this ancient medicinal hot chocolate to lift your mood and warm you up in no time!
