When chocolate melts into a hot drink on a cold day, it triggers the mind, instantly refreshes and sets the mood for the season. Valentine’s Day is the occasion to celebrate love, and chocolate holds the key to hearts. With winter still going strong, the scene can be set right on February 14 with a delicious hot chocolate drink, a perfect antidote to a multitude of life’s twists and turns.

Get A Quick Drink

A real hot chocolate is a sensual, indulgent experience, especially for those who appreciate it. The simplest method to make real hot chocolate drink is by mixing milk and chocolate. Ideally, two mugs of warm milk and 60 grams of chocolate is enough to serve two. But ensure that the chocolate melts in a small portion of milk completely before pouring the remaining. Since the chocolate contains sugar, it is better to avoid adding more to the drink.

Image by Martin Cathrae via Flickr

Best As A Meal!

Hot chocolate has always been a part of the menu of the elite, history witnesses. It is not about calorie counting but indulging your appetite for a rich, satisfying hot drink that serves best as a meal. No wonder this wonderful find of the Aztecs of Mexico in South America has prospered the world over.

Derived from Nahuatl language of the Aztecs ‘xocolatl’ – a combination of the words, xocolli, meaning “bitter”, and atl, which is “water” – chocolate has stirred many as a drink. This rich frothy drink often seasoned with vanilla or chilli pepper was believed to fight fatigue and was a luxury good, until the Spanish conquest. And thereafter Spain monopolised on the new elixir, chocolate.

The upper class enjoyed their chocolate drink that was boiled in wine, heavily spiced and sweetened, and served for breakfast. But eventually the treasured secret of chocolate leaked out into the golden cups of all European monarchs. Their innovative sweet hot chocolate with sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and other spices in England had a rush of colour with the addition of milk as an after dinner treat.

Hot Chocolate or Hot Cocoa?

Though hot chocolate is used interchangeably with hot cocoa – technically they are different!  While hot chocolate is made from chocolate bars melted into cream, hot cocoa is made from cocoa powder, which is “chocolate pressed free of all its richness,” meaning the fat of cocoa butter. It is a rich decadent drink. And when it is served in different blends, mix and consistencies – like coffee with hot chocolates – it stimulates your palate.

Love Drug

Researchers have discovered that chemicals found in chocolate are beneficial to health. But all the more, chocolate is claimed to be an aphrodisiac. For example, chocolate is said to contain a chemical substance called Phenylethylamine , also found in human brain, which is believed to stimulate pleasures – feelings of happiness and love. This love drug is responsible for mimicking the “brain chemistry of a person in love” and thus, improving the chemistry between the lovers.

Making a cup of hot chocolate drink may sound easy, but it is tricky to work with and its versatility knows no bounds.  Take the occasion to customise your own hot chocolate drink with a dollop of ice cream, choco chips and choco dust. Let your imagination drive wild. There is no better way to make your loved one feel very special on Valentine’s Day.

Image via Wikipedia