Did you know that National Hot Chocolate Day is on January 31? Many of you may love hot chocolate for its delicious taste. But how can you drink something without knowing where it comes from? Obviously, hot chocolate is made using cocoa. The question is, where does cocoa come from?
Well, chocolate, or cocoa, was first discovered by the king of the Aztecs in 1519. It was called “xocoatl” by the Aztecs. When the conquistadors, or Spanish conquerors, visited the king, they pronounced it as “chocalatl”. That’s where we get the word “chocolate” from.
We know that hot chocolate can be prepared in many ways. You can make it using melted chocolate or cocoa powder mixed in with some milk, hot water, or cream. You can add flavorings like vanilla or even cinnamon to spice it up. Try not to add in any sugar to your drink, since the chocolate already contains sugar. The components that make up this delicious drink are the reason why it tastes so light and sweet. Some people like to add marshmallows or whipped cream to their hot cocoa to make it fluffy. Use this drink to keep you warm, especially during the cold winter days, or to even get a good night’s sleep.
Here’s a delicious hot chocolate recipe from All Recipes:
Celebrate the occasion now with a warm cup of hot cocoa!
By Maiar Abdalbasir
Prakash, Sheela. “What’s the Difference Between Hot Cocoa and Hot Chocolate?” Kitchn. Feb 11 2016. http://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-between-hot-cocoa-and-hot-chocolate-228029
Unknown. “Who Invented… Hot Chocolate?” The Restored Church of God. https://rcg.org/youth/odds/0701-wihc.html