Xocolatl: 72% Aztec Hot Cocoa Chocolate

Every summer I grow some variety of hot pepper. In the past, my plants didn't produce much, but this year I changed up my method and ended up with an abundance of hot chili peppers! I was so stoked and knew exactly how I wanted to use them in chocolate.

Xocolatl, also know today as Aztec Hot Cocoa (or Mexican Hot Cocoa), was an ancient, bitter and unsweetened beverage used by civilizations like the Aztecs for its energizing properties as well as for religious rituals. This beverage was made with crushed roasted cocoa beans, water and spices such as vanilla, cinnamon, chili and honey. Over time, people began modifying the recipe, adding milk and sugar, to form what we know today as hot chocolate...except....we failed to keep the best part: The Spices!

Thankfully, craft chocolatiers are bringing the flavor - and even the drink itself - back to life. And considering how much I love spicy chocolate, and peppers IN my chocolate, I knew I had to be one of those chocolatiers.

And man oh man did I make a winner! It's dark and spicy, with a bold chocolate backbone and loads of flavor: sweet vanilla, bitter cinnamon and of course, smoky hot pepper. In other words, its super addictive and I have a feeling this is going to be my new favorite!!