MEXICAN CHOCOLATE

Mexican chocolate is made from dark, bitter chocolate mixed with sugar, cinnamon, and sometimes nuts. The end result is a “grainy” less smooth product. Chocolate is frequently purchased in “disks” although it is also available in bars and syrups.

History And Lore : CHOCOLATE

The botanical name for chocolate is Theobroma, which means “food of the gods”.  The name is appropriate for the importance of chocolate in the Mexican culture.  Chocolate is among the many things the Spaniards acquired from the Aztecs.  The native Aztec people made a variety of drinks made of chocolate combined with honey, nuts, seeds, and spices.  The drink was used in rituals by priests as well as nobleman. While many historic references are made to the Aztecs and chocolate, the Aztecs actually adopted the use of chocolate from the earlier Mayan Culture.

European Adaptation
Chocolate was so revered it was used by the Aztecs as both a food and currency. The Spanish explorers were so enamored with the flavor that they took chocolate back to Spain where it became the the Kings’ Official Drink in the New Spain and Europe.  Around the end of the XVIII century(1780 - 1800) , Europeans started preparing chocolate with milk and sugar to create what we know today as Hot Chocolate.  In fact the drink became so popular many of the leading European porcelain manufactures such as Limoges in France began making specialized pots and cups just to serve chocolate.

Traditional Uses For Mexican Chocolate

Hot Drinks -  The most traditional use for chocolate was for hot beverages such as Atole, Champurrado and Mexican Hot Chocolate.

Atole is frequently served with tamales.  Champurrado is also served as a dessert with Churros or a sweet bread called Pan Dulce.  These drinks are whipped up using a wooden whisk called a molinillo (moh-lin-nyee-oh) (or, a blender).  The whisk is held between the palms of your hands. Then using a back and forth motion the whisk moves back and forth in the mixture until it is aerated and frothy.

Tejate - A Oaxaca specialty. An interesting cold drink is made of dark chocolate, corn masa, cocoa flowers, then marinated and frothed.

Mole (moh-Lay) - A sauce that varies in content depending on the region.  The traditional red mole contains chilies, garlic, nuts, tomato, spices and chocolate.  It is important to note that the amount of chocolate is very small and enhances but does not overpower the sauce.  The sauce is served with turkey or chicken.  Mole does not use the Mexican flavored chocolate but instead a dark bitter, unspiced version.

Article Source: www.gourmetsleuth.com