"HotChocolate" news and stories

What makes chocolate so addictive?

Chocolate contains a variety of substances, which definitely have an effect on the mind or body chemistry. These include compounds like theobromine, the primary alkaloid in cocoa and chocolate also stimulates the heart and has many therapeutic uses.

People associate the "chocolate high" with the theobromine content, which oddly enough has a stronger biochemical effect for horses and is normally banned in horse racing since it's considered to give them a competitive edge.

Tryptophane, an essential amino acid and precursor to serotonin, that most people associate with turkey, can also be found in chocolate. Tryptophane can help to calm and relax the body, but I like chocolate simply for the fact that it's an easy way to spoil yourself! Get my recipe for Mexican hot chocolate after the jump.

Cocoa may come in many flavors on the shelf, but making it yourself releases the true flavor.

I grew up on Swiss Miss hot chocolate - cocoa powder and hot water, as simple as that. While living in Paris, I tried rich thick hot chocolates that made my Swiss Miss alternative seem overly watery and lacking in flavor and texture. So, when I returned to NY, I became intrigued by the many different ways to make this simple drink more exquisite. Mexican hot chocolate is probably my favorite.

If you're looking to spice up your hot chocolate, you don't necessarily have to add anything to the combination besides water, milk, and chocolate. Think about using different kinds of chocolates. For example, a Mexican hot chocolate is made from chocolate that has often been blended with sugar, vanilla and spices, like cinnamon. Taza Chocolate in Somerville, Massachusetts produces a particularly delicious Mexican chocolate that you can purchase online. It's amazing what cinnamon does for hot chocolate.

Of course, you can also create different hot chocolates by adding some rum and a variety of creams. Check out these 8 remarkable hot chocolate recipes below and let us know which ones are your favorite:

1. Mexican Hot Chocolate
2. Belgian Hot Chocolate
3. Hot Chocolate from The Barefoot Contessa
4. Hot Chocolate Agasajo-Style
5. Hot Chocolate with Rum
6. Superrich Hot Chocolate with Coconut Cream
7. Hot Chocolate Passion
8. Martha Stewart's White Hot Chocolate

At New York City's Roasting Plant Coffee Company (81 Orchard St. between Broome and Grand streets, and 75 Greenwich Ave. at Seventh Ave., 212-775-7755), they have to-die-for hot chocolate. The recipe is shockingly simple, and you can make it at home!

The secret? Gelato.

Go buy a pint of your favorite chocolate gelato (dark chocolate is recommeneded), put a scoop in a mug, and let it melt. Add steamed milk to taste. Top it with marshmallows or whipped cream and chocolate chips (right). Done! Classy, frothy hot chocolate with a divine, rich flavor.

If you want pre-melted gelato at your beck and call (pour steamed milk on frozen gelato and you get "lukewarm chocolate"), keep some in your fridge in a sealable tupperware container, and use it within two days.

[via Tasting Table]

How do you like your hot chocolate? Whatever your preference, be it kicked up with a shot of your favorite liqueur or thick and decadent, at least one of the 60 recipes in Michael Turback's Hot Chocolate will suit your tastes perfectly. This single-subject volume is comprehensive in its coverage of drinkable chocolates and, rather than simply listing variations on one basic recipe, it covers all the major trends in the genre: European chocolates, modern "haute" chocolates, adult/spiked hot chocolates and "second childhood" hot chocolates. Following the recipes, he even includes a brief selection of recipes to pair with the drinks. The part of the book that chocolate lovers might find to be the most interesting is the introduction, where Turback discusses the types and uses of chocolates, spices, sweeteners and everything else that goes into making a great cup of cocoa. This information sets the reader up beautifully to explore new flavor combinations on top of those included by the author. If you're looking for a specifically Christmas drink, Eggnog Hot Chocolate is one recipe from this book that is worth a look. Other tempting drinks include Hot Butterscotch with White Chocolate, Key Lime Pie Hot Chocolate, Roasted Hazelnut Hot Chocolate and Matcha Hot Chocolate.

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