Recently I learned that there are about 40,000 varieties of rice in the world! Some of the types of rice that are produced in the United States are long grain rice, medium grain rice, short grain rice, sweet or waxy rice, aromtaic rice, jasmine rice and many more. Examples of differrent forms of rice include rough rice, brown rice, regular milled white rice, parbroiled rice, and precooked rice. What amazes me of rice is in the variety of ways it is cooked as a savory dish.In many cultures rice is an important part of their meal.They must always have rice when having dinner. rice has become so popular that you could always find it in many restaurant menus. It brings a lot of cultures together.
In the Mexican culture rice is very sifnificant to us. But before talking about in what ways it is significant, I would like to give you a brief background of how it was introduced to Mexico. rice was first introduced to the Mexican culture through the Philippines. The Philippines transported rice to Acapulco. It became so popular that the Spaniards later found tropical climate of Veracruz region of Mexico to be the ideal place to grow rice.
Many might know rice as just simply a savory dish but it is also used in desserts, cakes, vegetable puddings, tamales, atoles, and the most popular drink known in Mexican culture, Horchata. I love Horchata! It's my all time favorite drink. For those who do not know what horchata is, it is a cold drink made of rice, almonds, cinammon, lime zest and sugar. Even though it has a milky look, it is completely dairy free. Horchata has been used to also make flavored horchata ice cream bars. We use rice in almost everything!
Another example of how rice is used is to make Arroz con Leche. Arroz con leche is known as rice pudding. It is a Mexican classic dessert. The way my family makes this dessert is by using the following ingredients: rice, cinammon, sugar, carnation, vnailla extract, raisons, and ground cinnamon on top for an extra topping when it's all done and ready to eat. But not only is rice used to make food, it is also used in traditional Mexican weddings.
In Mexican weddings, it is a tradition that in the day of the wedding the family goes eat breakfast at the bride’s home. After the reception, rice is thrown at the newly weds. It is said that this tradition was first originated by the Aztecs. The reason for this is because in the Mexican culture it is believed that by throwing rice at the newly weds it will keep the evil spirits away. Many people are strong believers when it comes to spirits. Also, by throwing rice it is suppose to bring your marriage good fortune. For these reasons, this is why rice is very significant in the Mexican culture. It is just used in so many ways! .
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate is also known as hot cocoa. It is a heated beverage that consists of shaved chocolate or cocoa powder, heated milk or water, and sugar. Hot chocolate is found in many places such as bakeries and grocery stores. It is very popular during Winter time because it makes a nice drink when trying to keep warm. It is also used for holidays. Up to present day today, hot chocolate is made in a variety of different ways. It is famous through out Europe and made differently than the original hot chocolate we mostly know here in the U.S. But where did hot chocolate originate from? It is said that hot chocolate came from the Aztec culture and has had many changes ever since.
In Mexican culture the two most popular hot chocolates made are hot chocolate with Ibarra chocolate and champurado. Ibarra chocolate is Mexican sweet chocolate disks. It is over a pound of chocolate which has been pressed with ground cocoa bean and cinammon. The way you use it to make hot chocolate is just by boiling your milk and putting pieces of the hot chocolate in the boiled milk, stir it into the chocolate melts. The amount of chocolate put into your drink is based on how much chocolate you like. You can purchase Ibarra chocolate in any nearby grocery store. Champurrado is a traditional Mexican drink. People refer to it as a Mexican hot chocolate. It is flavored with anise and piloncillo. It is a warm thick drink that also contains masa harina (Hominy flour). It is a very popular drink during Christmas season. Champurrado is served with tamales during Christmas time. It is also a popular drink served with churros.
There’s also a belief in the Mexican culture about Champurrado. My grandma told me that a lot of people believe that Champurado is good for hangovers. It sounds pretty funny and weird but people say it actually works. For example, if you get carried away with drinking and vomit the whole next morning, my grandmother said it’s good to drink a Champurrado. People say because the fact that it’s a really thick liquid containing masa that the masa settles the alcohol down to your tummy so you are able to eat without having your body reject the food. Therefore you are able to balance out the alcohol with the food and you start to feel much better. Because many times after a hangover many cant eat because your body is weak and rejects it. But it is said that Champurrado helps and solves the problem right away.
It's amazing how over the years hot chocolate has transformed in many names now referred to many different names based on culture. One thing in common with hot chocolate in all cultures is that it is used a lot during the holiday season and make great drinks for bringing family together.
In Mexican culture the two most popular hot chocolates made are hot chocolate with Ibarra chocolate and champurado. Ibarra chocolate is Mexican sweet chocolate disks. It is over a pound of chocolate which has been pressed with ground cocoa bean and cinammon. The way you use it to make hot chocolate is just by boiling your milk and putting pieces of the hot chocolate in the boiled milk, stir it into the chocolate melts. The amount of chocolate put into your drink is based on how much chocolate you like. You can purchase Ibarra chocolate in any nearby grocery store. Champurrado is a traditional Mexican drink. People refer to it as a Mexican hot chocolate. It is flavored with anise and piloncillo. It is a warm thick drink that also contains masa harina (Hominy flour). It is a very popular drink during Christmas season. Champurrado is served with tamales during Christmas time. It is also a popular drink served with churros.
There’s also a belief in the Mexican culture about Champurrado. My grandma told me that a lot of people believe that Champurado is good for hangovers. It sounds pretty funny and weird but people say it actually works. For example, if you get carried away with drinking and vomit the whole next morning, my grandmother said it’s good to drink a Champurrado. People say because the fact that it’s a really thick liquid containing masa that the masa settles the alcohol down to your tummy so you are able to eat without having your body reject the food. Therefore you are able to balance out the alcohol with the food and you start to feel much better. Because many times after a hangover many cant eat because your body is weak and rejects it. But it is said that Champurrado helps and solves the problem right away.
It's amazing how over the years hot chocolate has transformed in many names now referred to many different names based on culture. One thing in common with hot chocolate in all cultures is that it is used a lot during the holiday season and make great drinks for bringing family together.
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