Traditional New Mexican Sipping Chocolate
Indulge in a cup of our Southwestern Sipping Hot Chocolate, inspired by the rich history of this ancient beverage. Chocolate, derived from the cacao bean, holds a storied past, cherished by ancient civilizations like the Mayans and Aztecs who believed it possessed mystical and energizing properties. We pay homage to this tradition by infusing our hot chocolate with a simple combination of chiles and cinnamon with a touch of southwestern flavors.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Simmer
- Cuisine: New Mexican
Ingredients
- 1–2 dried new Mexican chiles, stemmed and seeded, and broken into pieces
- 2 c. milk
- 1 c. heavy cream
- 2 t. vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- pinch of salt
- 1 t. ground cinnamon
- 1 c. bittersweet chocolate chopped pieces
- maple syrup or honey to taste, optional
Instructions
In a dry medium-large saucepan over medium heat, stir the chile pieces for around a minute to soften them and activate the oils inside. Now pour in the milk, heavy cream, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon. Bring this mixture to a very low simmer (where you barely see a bubble) and let it steep like this for five minutes. Strain the milk mixture through a fine mesh strainer and add it back to the pot. Add the chocolate to the pot and whisk over low heat until the chocolate is completely melted. Serve immediately.
Notes
Keywords: Cacao, hot chocolate, sipping chocolate, mayan culture, quetzalcoatl, chocolate history
Find it online: https://highdeserttable.com/new-mexican-sipping-chocolate/