Where was Hot Chocolate First Served?
Hello, Good People! How are you doing today? How's the weather? Is it cold? How about a cup of hot chocolate to warm you up?
Chocolate has found its way to be used in daily
life, and a cup of hot chocolate is one of them. That dark, brittle, and shiny
drink that melts in your mouth never fails to make you feel comfy. Have you
ever thought of "where was hot chocolate first served?" The
journey of hot chocolate comes a long way.
Photo by Ylanite Koppens |
Back then, chocolate was not something that you
would commonly find in the form of bars and powders. The chocolate bar that you
know was found in the 1800s by Casparus van Houten in the Netherlands. However,
the drinkable form of cocoa was found way before then.
Mexico, Central America
To answer the question of "where was hot
chocolate first served?" is in Mexico. In the early 500BC, the Mayans
and Aztecs were drinking chocolate made from ground-up cocoa seeds. During this
time, the ground-up cocoa beans were mixed with cornmeal, water, chili peppers,
and other ingredients.
The Mayans and Aztecs made chocolate drink by
repeatedly pouring from one vessel to another, back and forth until frothy. The
drink was different than the ones that we have today. It is served cold and
unsweetened.
The Chocolate Drink Made it to
Europe
Technically the indigenous tribes of Mexico made
the chocolate drink that we love today. It became a hot chocolate drink when an
explorer named Cortez in the early 1500s brought cocoa beans along with the
drink-making tools to Europe.
After its introduction in Spain, the chocolate
drink began to be served, sweetened, hot, and without chili peppers. The
Spanish did not want to share their new beverages, and it took over a hundred
years before the drink was known across Europe.
Finally, in the 1700s, the infamous hot chocolate
drink came to London. The president of the Royal College of Physicians, Hans
Sloane brought a recipe from Jamaica to mix chocolate with milk. After that,
it became the hot chocolate drink that we know today.
Hot Chocolate Today
The
hot chocolate of today is simply a treat that we drink to satisfy our cravings
and need for comfort. You don't need to make them from scratch anymore, as
there are packages available in your local grocery stores. Simply pour some hot
water along with it, and you got yourself a nice, warm, silky, and flavorful
drink to enjoy.
Well,
Good People, now you know where
was hot chocolate first served. Hope you enjoyed the long
journey of your favorite drink. Thank you for your time, and have a great day!