Mexican hot chocolate is a delightful treat that people have enjoyed for centuries. Many folks are familiar with the classic chocolate and milk combination, but there is much more to this delicious drink! If you have never tried Mexican hot chocolate before, you are in for a real treat. Learn everything you should know about Mexican hot chocolate to help you make the perfect cup.
Mexican hot chocolate contains spices like cinnamon and chili and chopped bittersweet chocolate to create a very rich but less sweet flavor. Whereas traditional American hot chocolate is usually made with a combination of cocoa powder and/or chocolate and tends to be more on the sweet side.
What Is Mexican Hot Chocolate?
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. The chocolate used in Mexican hot chocolate is typically dark chocolate, which has a higher cocoa content than milk chocolate or white chocolate. The difference is a richer flavor and a more intense chocolate experience.
History of Mexican Chocolate
Mexican chocolate has been around for centuries. Mexican cultures once used chocolate as currency. The Aztecs believed that chocolate was a gift from the gods and would only drink it on special occasions. When the Spanish arrived in Mexico, they began to add sugar and milk to the chocolate to make it more palatable. This is how Mexican hot chocolate came to be.
You can find recipes for Mexican hot chocolate dating back to the 1600s. It was a popular drink among the wealthy and often served on special occasions.
The Mexican Hot Chocolate Battle: Abuelita Vs. Ibarra
FAQ
What is the difference between hot chocolate and Mexican hot chocolate?
Why does Mexican hot chocolate taste better?
Why is it called Mexican hot chocolate?
Why does Abuelita hot chocolate taste different?
Is Mexican hot chocolate better than regular hot chocolate?
The round tablets are made of sugar, cocoa and cinnamon. The regular hot chocolate does not contain cinnamon and usually has less sugar. But this means it’s not as flavorful as Mexican hot chocolate. If you haven’t tried the latter one, I truly recommend you do!
Mexican vanilla vs Regular vanilla: Which is healthier?
Regular and pure Vanilla is made from whole vanilla beans extracted with alcohol. Whereas Mexican vanilla is made using tonka tree which belongs to pea family, extracts of vanilla are added and is entirely different from regular vanilla. Regular vanilla is healthier compared to Mexican vanilla.
What is a Mexican hot chocolate?
A Mexican hot chocolate is a hot drink prepared in Mexico or in the style of how Mexicans drink chocolate, which means grinding cacao, adding hot water or milk, sugar, and cinnamon.
Does Mexican hot chocolate have alcohol in it?
It may not have alcohol in it, but here is how MariCarmen—who grew up in Mexico City and has long lived in St. Louis, Missouri with her family—makes her Mexican hot chocolate. She lists the quick steps: “First, I boil the milk. Then I add Mexican chocolate—in tablet form.