By: Heidi Wagenbach
Hot chocolate is definitely an indulgence I have over the holidays or winter months. What’s more warm and comforting than a cup of steaming liquid chocolate, after all? Being versatile with how you adorn your cup of cocoa, whether that be whipped cream, syrup, crushed candy canes, or marshmallows, it’s a treat that’s loved by all ages.
Below are 10 fun facts about this drink that may surprise you!
#1
Hot chocolate dates back thousands of years to the Olmec civilization in Mexico. They are credited to be the first people who roasted the fruits of the cacao tree, then ground them, mixing them with water. Archaeologists discovered Olmec pottery that had small amounts of chocolate inside dating back all the way to 1700 BC.
#2
The Olmecs believed that hot chocolate had medicinal properties. It was high in calories, antioxidants, caffeine and acted as an aphrodisiac, so of course they would think it was restorative. Warriors drank it before battle and Montezuma II apparently chugged down 50 cups daily.
#3
After the Olmecs came the Aztecs and Mayans, who drank xocoatl, made from chilies, water, and corn. It was served warm and frothy. The Spanish were introduced to cacao drinks, sweetening them with cinnamon, sugar, and other spices instead.
#4
The explorer Cortez brought cocoa beans to Europe in the early 1500s and the drink gained popularity. It was adopted by the court of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V… (who knew it was such a royal drink?) There were issues and religious controversies in the 16th century as well; monks locked up hot chocolate to prevent philandering.
#5
On the same note, European Roman Catholic’s debated amongst themselves whether hot chocolate was a food or a drink. Their religion called for fasting, and it was Pope Gregory XIII that decreed drinkable chocolate was fine, even though many other clerks banned it from their practices.
#6
In the 18th and 19th centuries, hot chocolate was seen as a valued medicine. There were records during this era that claimed it helped treat fevers, liver disease, and stomach disorders.
#7
As the Revolutionary War was occurring, medics would give out cups of hot chocolate to wounded or dying soldiers. It was also offered as a monthly wage. Thomas Jefferson was a big fan, too; he wrote in a letter to John Adams: “The superiority of chocolate, both for health and nourishment, will soon give to the preference over tea and coffee.”
#8
The largest cup of hot chocolate ever made was 880 GALLONS. In 2013, the Tampa Bay’s Museum of Science and Industry collaborated with 300 local students (only appropriate that the biggest cup of cocoa was created by kids) and teachers to produce a pool-sized mix. It included 1,100 pounds of cocoa and 87 gallons of powdered milk. At the opening ceremony, the children were able to shoot marshmallows into it using homemade catapults.
#9
January 31st is National Hot Chocolate Day.
#10
What’s the difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate? The former is made by extracting cocoa butter from ground cacao beans whereas the latter is made directly from a bar of chocolate, which already contains cocoa, sugar, and cocoa butter.
Sources:
13 Things You Might Not Know About Hot Chocolate
It’s Hot Chocolate Season – 10 Facts About the Sweet, Chocolatey Drink