How to Make Mayan Hot Chocolate

Go back to the time of an ancient civilization with a cup of spicy, aromatic Mayan hot chocolate. The Mayan people believed that cocoa was a sacred drink and used it in many religious ceremonies. They brewed the cocoa with a combination of pungent spices and drank it unsweetened. Enjoy your own hot cup of Mayan hot chocolate.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 4 cups milk
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp. flour
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 3 cloves, crushed
• ¼ tsp. nutmeg
• 1 cinnamon stick (broken into pieces)
• ¼ tsp. dried, crushed chili peppers
• 2 tsp. powdered confectioners sugar
• 1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract
• Corn starch (optional)

1. Heat the milk in a double boiler on stove top over medium-low heat.

2. Sift the cocoa powder and the flour together and slowly stir in enough hot milk to make a paste.

3. Add the remaining spices to the paste and stir the entire mixture into the hot milk in the double boiler. To keep the mixture from burning, stir constantly.

4. Stir in a little corn starch if you want thicker hot chocolate. Add a bit at a time until the hot chocolate is the desired consistency.

5. Scoop the cloves and cinnamon off of the top with a slotted spoon. Add the vanilla extract and powdered sugar.

6. Serve the Mayan hot chocolate in heavy mugs.

Tips & Warnings

• Mayan hot chocolate is delicious topped off with whipped cream or marshmallows.

• A cinnamon stick makes a great stir stick.

• For a nutty taste, add 1 tbsp. finely ground hazelnuts or almonds.

• If you prefer, replace the dried, ground chili pepper with a fresh chili pepper. Cut the pepper in half and remove the seeds.