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This drink is based on the original Aztec cacao beverage, where they ground the beans into a mealy powder and cooked it with water and spices. Some drank it obsessively back in the day, and if anything can get you excited about unsweetened chocolate, this can. Think of it like coffee, chicory, or maté. I also included the cold beverage version as well for your experimental pleasure.
INGREDIENT
1/2 cup (48 g) raw cacao powder or (112 g) nibs
3 cups (700 ml) water
1 teaspoon fresh or dried minced chile pepper, or to taste
1 cinnamon stick, crushed
Pinch salt
1 vanilla bean
HOW TO COOK AZTEC STYLE CHOCOLATE DRINK (TWO WAYS)
With a mortar and pestle, grind the nibs into a powder, or if your powder has pieces in it, grind that to a finer texture. You can also use a food processor.
Add the water, chile, and cinnamon stick to a medium-size pot, bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Drain, saving the chile water. Mix the chile water with the cacao, cinnamon stick, and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring. Lower to simmer and cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Scrape the vanilla bean and add both the scrapings and the bean to the concoction for the last few minutes of simmering. Serve hot or warm.
Yield: 4 servings or 1 big one if you’re Montezuma
And Here’s the Uncooked Version!
INGREDIENT
1/2 cup (48 g) raw cacao powder or (112 g) nibs
1/4 cup (35 g) cornmeal
1/4 cup (35 g) squash seeds
Pinch salt
1 dried chile pepper, crushed and seeded
2 cups (475 ml) water
HOW TO COOK AZTEC STYLE CHOCOLATE DRINKUNLOCK VERSION
In a sturdy medium mixing bowl, grind all of the ingredients except the water with a pestle. Continue grinding while adding the water slowly until a thick but drinkable consistency is reached, about 4 to 5 minutes. (You may not have to use all of the water to get this to your satisfaction.) Next, whip the mixture with a whisk until a bit frothy, which will only take a few minutes. Serve. NOTE: You can also serve this beverage heated. This will make for a slightly smaller amount than the hot chocolate recipe, but you can still put it in 4 mugs.
Yield: 4 servings
