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.