National Hot Chocolate Day
Each year, National Hot Chocolate Day, the classic cold-weather drink, warms up people around the world.
Hot chocolate is a warm drink made with ground chocolate, heated milk or water, and sugar. We often use the terms hot chocolate and hot cocoa interchangeably in America. However, the two beverages are not similar.
Cocoa vs. hot chocolate: cocoa vs. hot chocolate
We make hot cocoa with cocoa powder, boiled milk or water, and sugar. We're able to do this thanks to a process that was developed by father and son chemists. We make hot chocolate with cocoa butter ground chocolate for the thicker, more flavorful drink. It is also called drinking chocolate. Hot chocolate has also been around longer than hot cocoa. Casparus van Houten Sr. invented a method to distinguish the cocoa solids from the butter in the early 1800s. Coenraad Johannes, his son, made those fats more soluble in water. Cocoa powder was made possible by their processes together.
But before that, everyone drank hot chocolate. During the 19th century, this thicker, creamier drink often had medicinal properties for stomach ailments. In fact, long before the beverage's ubiquity in Victorian times, it served in ceremonial history.
However, humans have been enjoying chocolate for a long time. The Mayans most likely invented the first chocolate beverage 2000 years ago. By 1400 AD, the Aztecs had also included a cocoa drink as an essential part of their culture. explorers returned chocolate and the beverage from Mexico to Europe when Europeans began discovering Central and South America.
Make it and benefit
Hot chocolate can be served in a variety of ways, including whipped cream or marshmallows. Sometimes a dash of peppermint or a pinch of cinnamon makes the chocolate extra special. Many people in the United States like an instant version of hot chocolate. It is made with hot water or milk, as well as a bag containing mainly cocoa powder, sugar, and dry milk.
Drinking hot chocolate has health benefits. Cocoa is a form of antioxidants that can help prevent cancer. The flavonoids in chocolate, according to studies, may have a positive effect on arterial health and memory.
How to celebrate #nationalhotchocolateday
- Make some hot chocolate
- Add a variety of toppings
- Invite a friend to join you for hot chocolate
- Try several hot chocolate flavors
- Taste the difference between hot chocolate and hot cocoa
- To post on social media, take a snapshot and use #NationalHotChocolateDay
Hot chocolate FAQ
Q. Is hot chocolate thicker than hot cocoa?
A. Yes. Yes. Hot chocolate is made by incorporating high-quality chocolate into the milk. It's almost like syrup but it's just marginally thinner. You can thin it down even more by adding more milk, but it will get it down even more.
Q. If I like hot chocolate, will I like hot chocolate?
Both are delectable, but hot chocolate is a little more luxurious than hot cocoa. Some prefer one over the other, and many people enjoy both equally.
