Before you say that drinking chocolate is the same as hot chocolate, then it is clear that you haven’t had drinking chocolate yet. Drinking chocolate or sipping chocolate is exactly what it sounds like. Chocolate that you can drink. Drinking chocolate is extremely popular in France and other European countries. This is a vibrant and indulgent drink that can only be described as decadent. What’s the texture? Think warm chocolate ganache with a touch of milk. The taste? It’s like drinking a chocolate bar.
Drinking Chocolate Trivia
- To different drinking chocolate from hot chocolate and make it more familiar, some cafes label it as “French hot chocolate.”
- Mayan drinking chocolate is almost exactly like the French drinking chocolate except that it has a pinch of cinnamon and cayenne pepper.
- Unlike hot chocolate, drinking chocolate isn’t usually served with marshmallows or any toppings.
- From the 16th to 19th centuries, not only was drinking chocolate popular as a beverage, but also as something medicinal.
Drinking Chocolate Buying Guide
Drinking chocolate is a true artisan creation. It is tough to find real drinking chocolate on store shelves. If you do find something that’s marketed as drinking chocolate, then you should check the label for any additives that might be a thickener or starch that can mimic the texture of authentic drinking chocolate.
Real drinking chocolate should only have the following ingredients.
- Dark Chocolate
- Milk (or for mixes, milk powder)
- Sweetener (Natural sugar or cane sugar is best)
- Cocoa powder
That’s it, four ingredients. There may be others with spices, and those are fine as well.
If the drinking chocolate contains the following, then it would be best to stay away.
- Any type of “gum” – this acts as thickeners and texturizers to give it a “fuller” texture closer to real drinking chocolate.
- Any type of “starch” – again, thickeners and texturizers to give it a consistency that is close to real drinking chocolate.
Drinking Chocolate Production & Farming in Texas
Much like coffee, the cacao does not grow very well in the United States, but that doesn’t stop local chocolatiers from importing cocoa beans and creating artisan chocolates as well as drinking chocolate. Local chocolatiers specialize in artisan chocolate products that are in no way in competition with big chocolate producers.
The artisanal chocolate producers are thriving even though they have products that cost more than what’s commercially available. The current mindset for chocolate consumption is slowly shifting towards quality and making “indulgences” count, so if they’re going to eat chocolate, it should be perfect.
Packaging:
Ready to mix drinking chocolate is packed in either glass or plastic jars. They can also come in resealable PET bags.
Enjoying Drinking Chocolate
The best way to enjoy drinking chocolate is to have it made by an artisan chocolatier or the barista at a local chocolate shop. But if you have purchased the ready-to-mix kinds, just follow the directions on the packaging, and you should be good to go.
Make Your Own Drinking Chocolate:
Drinking chocolate requires only four ingredients and will take only a few minutes to prepare.
Ingredients:
8 oz Good quality black chocolate or semisweet chocolate
1 ¾ cup whole milk
½ cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Step one:
Break the chocolate into small pieces in a small pan or saucepan.
Step two:
Add the rest of the ingredients, and turn the fire to low-medium, keep on stirring.
Step 3:
Keep on stirring until no more lumps are visible, and the mixture is completely smooth.
Step 4:
Ladle and serve. If the texture is too thick, then add a little bit more milk.
