Along with tea and coffee, hot chocolate is among the top three warm drinks consumed worldwide. It goes without saying that this drink has been enjoyed for years, and people from all walks of life have customized this decadent chocolate drink to suit their own tastes and inclinations. Similar to tea and coffee, hot chocolate has several variations and is savored differently around the globe.
It's hardly unexpected that many nations have their own takes on the traditional hot chocolate recipe as it's one of the greatest ways to stay warm in the winter. Each country’s hot chocolate recipe has a tiny variation that shows off the local culture and gourmet flavor. Thus, have a look at this list and give it a try the next time you're feeling cold and want something sweet.
Any list about chocolate would be incomplete without Belgium, and this list is no exception. The rich and creamy beverage known as Belgian hot chocolate is renowned for containing many types of chocolate. Sounds good, doesn't it? It's a rich, creamy drink that is quite addicting. It contains bittersweet and semi-sweet chocolate, as well as a small amount of salt to bring out the flavor even more.
The history of Mexican hot chocolate, or champurrado, dates back to the Mayans. This tangy hot chocolate was originally brought to the world by the Aztecs 4000 years ago. Instead of leaving the cocoa gritty and rough as in other nations, Mexican cocoa is used to prepare the hot chocolate.
The main ingredients that give this hot chocolate recipe its acidic flavor are cayenne pepper and Mexican cinnamon, often known as Ceylon cinnamon. The addition of flour, vanilla essence, and cloves are other essential components that make this recipe unique.
Champurrado, which has a thick texture, is whisked with a wooden whisker called a molinillo. Although it may sound strange, this classic hot chocolate dish was enjoyed without sugar and with a riot of spices.
The method used to produce this delicious drink earns it the nickname "Argentinian El Submarino." A bar of chocolate is dipped into a cup of hot milk in Argentina and allowed to dissolve to make hot chocolate.
The nicest thing about this drink is that there are no set instructions for making it; you may experiment and use any sort of chocolate you desire. It might be any kind of chocolate that comes to mind—bitter, bittersweet, semi-sweet, milky, dark, spicy, etc. All you need to do is plunge that chocolate bar into a glass of heated milk.
Italian hot chocolate, or cacioccolata calda, is a rich, hot chocolate bath. This hot chocolate recipe has an incredibly thick consistency that makes it more like food than a beverage.
Any component that condenses, such as corn starch, is the main player that makes the food come together. All that's needed to distinguish this dish is the addition of corn starch together with rich cream and whole milk. You will be astounded to taste hot chocolate with a thick but velvety texture—a combination made possible only by Cioccolata Calda.
The French hot chocolate recipe, or chocolat chaud, is a dense treat. The Chocolat Chaud stands out from the rest due to its smooth and thick solidity, which does not include the usual sweetness.
Espresso powder and fleur de sel, or French sea salt, are two more noteworthy spices used to enhance the French flavor of this hot chocolate beverage.
Because of its thick solidity, Parisians like their hot chocolate without cream. The chocolate can be prepared by whisking it in a milk bath, in milk and water, or just water. It's possible to compare the flavor of a genuine Chocolat Chaud to liquid frozen chocolate with a hint of bittersweetness.
The Indian take on hot chocolate is made using white chocolate, which makes it even more delicious than the other beverages on the list. This unique drink is brought to you by The Land of Spices and is bursting with spices including cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, and star anise. It's worth trying on a cold winter night since the flavor combination of white chocolate and chai is excellent.