Aztec hot chocolate

Hot chocolate was a traditional drink of Aztec people in Mexico. Cocoa beans were used in the Aztec empire as money! A hundred cocoa beans would buy you a slave.

Everybody carried cocoa-bean-money around, but only the emperor and the upper class were allowed to drink it. One Aztec emperor was known to drink up to 50 cups a day.

The Aztecs used to roast and grind the beans to a paste, then add water, vanilla and chilli peppers - it really was HOT chocolate. But the recipe was updated by the Spanish army who found it too bitter. They added sugar, spices and milk.

Here's how to make your own delicious Aztec hot chocolate (the Spanish version!)

How to make

1. Heat the chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan with some hot water in it (or you can microwave it, but be careful not to burn it).

2. At the same time, heat the milk gently in another saucepan, then add the vanilla and cinnamon.

3. Add the melted chocolate to the milk, and bring to the boil.

4. Simmer the mixture, whisking with a balloon whisk or hand beater for 2-3 minutes.

5. Remove from the heat and keep whisking until you have a good layer of foam.

6. Drink your chocolate hot or cold, but make sure each mug gets a generous layer of bubbles!

Find out about the Aztecs and ancient Americas in Museum explorer

 Made your own Aztec hot chocolate?
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