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We all know what hot chocolate is – essentially, chocolate in a cup (otherwise known as heaven!) Believed to have originated nearly 2000 years ago with the ancient Mayans, hot chocolate has since been introduced in Europe and North America, and popularized all over the globe.
Delicious frothy soothing hot cocoa is mostly drank for pleasure and is extremely popular this time of year. It tantalizes the taste buds. It comforts and warms. It treats and delights. It is all around wonderful just the way it is except...there are so many often unexplored possibilities lingering in a single cup of hot chocolate that it sinks the heart of a true chocolate connoisseur.
Don't get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a traditional hot chocolate mix. But you need not bundle up and venture down the street to a fancy coffee shop in order to procure a mug of delectable exotic chocolaty goodness.
The time has come to uncover some of the hidden treasures that can be coaxed from the depths of a rich chocolaty mixture in the comfort of your own kitchen. All you need are the right ingredients and a sense of adventure.
- 1/2 tbsp of vanilla bean powder + 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 red chili pepper, split down the middle with the seeds removed
- a cup or two of your favourite milk – 2%, skim, soy milk, whatever your preference
- 1 1/2 oz chocolate – bittersweet works best, but feel free to add more than the designated amount
- gently simmer the milk in a saucepan along with the vanilla bean powder, chili pepper and cinnamon stick
- in the meantime, grate the chocolate, then add to the milk mixture.
- Continue simmering until melted.
- remove from heat and leave to sit for another 10 minutes (this allows the flavours to better steep together, creating a richer mixture)
- finally strain out the spices and serve
Sit, relax, savour and allow yourself to travel back in time to the dawn of a mouth-watering dessert beverage.
Yummy! Thank you for sharing!
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