On cold winter evenings, is it so pleasant to sit by the flaming fireplace? enjoying fragrant cocoa. The recipe for its preparation is simple and has a huge number of options that can satisfy even the most demanding taste. Where did this amazing drink come from and what benefits does our body have?
The history of cocoa began as early as one and a half thousand years BC. The Olmec Native American tribe living in Central America began using cocoa powder to make a special dark brown drink. There is historical evidence for Mayan use of cocoa beans. The recipe for making the drink was kept a special secret, as it was considered magical and was used for ritual rites. Cocoa beans were unusually expensive and in most cases played the role of money. Only ten grains were enough to buy a young and healthy slave.
The Aztecs significantly expanded plantations of planted trees and made the drink more affordable. Although these beans were brought to Europe by Columbus, it took as long as a hundred years for the amazing cocoa drink to be quite widespread. Europeans called it the "drink of the gods."
Making cocoa has become not only an exciting activity, but also a profitable business. Experimenting with a change in the recipe, adding various fruits, milk, butter and sugar, people invented milk chocolate and sweets with delicious fillings. Let's look at several options for making a delicious drink worthy of kings.
Cocoa. Classic recipe
One serving of the drink will require a tablespoon of cocoa powder, a teaspoon of granulated sugar and a glass of milk. Mix cocoa with sugar and add a small amount of milk. Stir until smooth. Only after this pour the rest of the milk, stir and put the saucepan on a slow fire. Bring the drink to a boil. Remove from the stove and pour hot cocoa into circles. It should be consumed hot.
Cocoa. Coffee recipe
To make delicious and fragrant cocoa mocha, you need a tablespoon of bean powder, a teaspoon of coffee and granulated sugar, a glass of water, a pinch of ground nutmeg, a little cream. Mix all the ingredients until smooth. Put the saucepan on a small fire and bring to a boil. We remove from the stove and, having closed the lid, we insist about 10 minutes. Pour the drink into circles, adding to each cream to taste.
Cocoa. Egg Yolk Recipe
Preparing this rich drink will require good culinary skills. We need two glasses of milk, two tablespoons of cocoa powder and granulated sugar, one yolk, a pinch of vanilla sugar, cinnamon and cardamom. In a saucepan, mix all the dry ingredients, adding one tablespoon of sugar. We breed with a small amount of milk to a mushy state. Pour the rest of the liquid, put on fire and bring to the boil. Cool the drink to room temperature. Beat the yolk with a spoonful of sugar. Add warm cocoa to the egg mass and put it on the fire again. Heat well, but do not boil, constantly stirring with a wooden spatula. Remove from the stove and thoroughly beat the drink with a mixer. Pour into mugs and decorate with cream. Your relatives have not tried such an exotic drink yet.
All lovers of this delicacy will be interested to know that the beneficial properties of the drink were investigated back in the 17th century. It has been widely used as an aphrodisiac. Be sure to drink cocoa if you have problems with the circulatory system. The drink is able to strengthen the walls of blood vessels and normalize blood pressure, expand the vessels of the bronchi and heart, as well as stimulate cardiac activity.
It is cocoa that increases the level of serotonin and antioxidants in the blood, which prolongs human life and gives a feeling of euphoria.