Tea Time Treat: Hot Chocolate With A Twist

Hot chocolate has been enjoyed for centuries, but the way it's made and served has evolved over time. So, can you cook hot chocolate in a teapot? Technically, yes – you can make hot chocolate and then pour it into a teapot to serve it. However, traditionally, hot chocolate was made and served from a special vessel called a chocolatière or chocolate pot. These pots tend to be tall and slender, similar to a coffee pot, but with distinct differences in the lid, spout and handle to accommodate the thick consistency of hot chocolate and the tool used to froth it, known as a molinet.

Hot chocolate recipes

Hot chocolate has been a popular drink for centuries and there are many ways to make it. Here are some hot chocolate recipes and serving suggestions, including how to make hot chocolate in a teapot.

Traditional Hot Chocolate

A traditional hot chocolate recipe involves shaving chocolate from a solid tablet of chocolate and adding spices like cardamom, aniseed, cloves, or bergamot. The chocolate is powdered and added to a pan or chocolate pot with water, milk, or a mixture of water and wine or brandy. This mixture is then brought to a boil while being constantly stirred to prevent scorching. Thickening agents are then added and the drink is frothed using a special tool called a chocolate mill, molinet, molinilla, or frother.

Hot Chocolate in a Teapot

It is possible to make hot chocolate in a teapot, and some teapots are specifically designed for this purpose, resembling long, tall teapots and often including a device to froth the chocolate. To make hot chocolate in a teapot, combine milk and half-and-half in a small saucepan and warm it over medium-low heat. Then, stir in bittersweet and semisweet chocolate chips, sugar, and vanilla until melted and combined. Transfer the mixture to a teapot and serve.

Fancy Hot Chocolate

For a fancier hot chocolate experience, create chocolate decorations by melting chocolate and piping lacy chocolate designs onto a baking mat or parchment paper. Allow the chocolate to set completely, then place a chocolate piece over each teacup and pour the hot chocolate on top. As the chocolate melts into the cup, top with whipped cream.

Hot Chocolate Gifts and Accessories

Hot chocolate can be served in a variety of pots and with different accessories, such as a frother to create a creamy texture. There are also hot chocolate bombs, which are sweet cocoa bombs that can be added to milk to create hot chocolate. For a unique gift, consider a hot chocolate station tray with individual glass jars, spoons, and labels for a personalised touch.

Teapots vs chocolate pots

Teapots and chocolate pots have distinct features, each designed for their specific purpose. Teapots are typically short and stout, allowing room for tea leaves to move around and infuse effectively. They often have a short spout coming out from the centre, with a grate to prevent leaves from escaping.

Chocolate pots, on the other hand, are usually taller and slender, resembling coffee pots. They have unique features to accommodate the preparation and serving of hot chocolate. For instance, the lid of a chocolate pot has a hole to insert a stirrer or molinet, a tool used to beat in thickening agents and create froth. The spout is set high and wide to capture the froth and prevent sediment from escaping.

While modern teapots may be suitable for preparing hot chocolate, traditional chocolate pots are designed with specific features to optimise the taste and texture of this indulgent drink. Chocolate pots often have a long, tall shape and may include devices to froth the chocolate. Some modern chocolate pots even have electric frothers for added convenience.

Preparing hot chocolate in a teapot is certainly possible, but for the true chocolate connoisseur, a chocolate pot is the ideal choice. These specialised pots ensure a smooth, frothy cup of hot chocolate, free from sediment.

For those who enjoy a rich, silky chocolate experience, chocolate pots are the perfect serving vessel. Recipes for chocolate desserts, such as chocolate pots de crème, are often served in small portions due to their intense flavour. These treats can be prepared in advance and are perfect for dinner parties, offering a delightful end to any meal.

Chocolate teapots

The spout of a chocolate teapot is usually wide and set high on the pot to capture the froth that floats on top of the chocolate and keep sediment from getting into the serving cups. Chocolate teapots may have handles set at a 90-degree angle to the pot or looping handles in line with the spout. The former requires two hands to pour and may make it easier to stir the chocolate as you pour.

In the past, chocolate teapots were made of silver, porcelain, pewter, or earthenware. Silver and porcelain were the most valuable materials at the time, reflecting the luxury and expense associated with chocolate. Today, you can find chocolate teapots made of glass, allowing you to watch your hot chocolate being made.

While you may not need a specialised chocolate teapot to make hot chocolate, these unique vessels offer a glimpse into the history and culture surrounding this beloved beverage.

Hot chocolate accessories

Hot Chocolate Pot

Hot chocolate pots tend to resemble long, tall teapots, often with three or four small feet. Many come with a device to froth your chocolate. You can find vintage and antique versions, as well as modern ones with electric frothers.

Hot Chocolate Bombs

These are all the rage on social media. Simply pour hot milk over the bomb and watch it melt into a delicious treat. They are perfect for a steamy cup of hot chocolate without any heavy lifting.

Hot Chocolate on a Stick

These stir-ins are convenient and easy to use. Simply stir them into a mug of milk, and you're ready to go! They come in various flavours, including French truffle, peanut butter cup, peppermint, and salted caramel.

Hot Chocolate Stirring Spoons

For a richer hot chocolate experience, try these chocolate-coated stirring spoons. They melt into hot milk, creating a creamy and flavorful cocoa drink. The set typically includes two milk chocolate and one dark chocolate flavour for variety.

Milk Frother

For serious hot chocolate enthusiasts, a milk frother is a must-have accessory. It quickly produces light and airy foam or creamy whipped cream without the mess and sore muscles associated with hand-whipping.

Hot Cocoa Toppings and Treats

Take your hot chocolate to the next level with a variety of toppings and treats. Crushed candy cane pieces, mini marshmallows, caramel bits, and bourbon pecan-flavoured mixes can add a unique twist to your drink.

Hot Chocolate Stirrers

Dip and stir peppermint-flavoured hot chocolate stirrers into your hot cocoa for a refreshing hint of mint.

Hot Cocoa Sprinkles

Sprinkles are an easy and adorable way to dress up your hot chocolate. Candy cane-shaped sprinkles and mini marshmallows are perfect for the holiday season.

Hot Chocolate-Themed Decorations

Enhance the ambiance with hot chocolate-themed decorations, such as floating marshmallows in the shape of snowmen or caribou cocoa buddies, which hold treats like marshmallows and candies.

Hot Cocoa-Scented Candles

Create a cosy and relaxing atmosphere with the warm and inviting scent of a cocoa-inspired candle, accented with notes of marshmallows and peppermint.

Hot chocolate history

Hot chocolate, also known as hot cocoa or drinking chocolate, has a long history that dates back thousands of years. Here is a brief overview of its evolution:

Ancient Origins

The first chocolate drink is believed to have originated around 3,300 years ago with the Mayo-Chinchipe culture in present-day Ecuador, and it was later consumed by the Maya around 2,500–3,000 years ago. The Maya ground cocoa seeds with water, cornmeal, chilli peppers, and other ingredients to create a cold chocolate beverage. They mixed the drink by pouring it back and forth between a cup and a pot to develop a thick foam. Chocolate was accessible to all Maya social classes, but the wealthy drank from large spouted vessels that were often buried with elites.

Mesoamerican Ritual Drink

In ancient and medieval Mesoamerican societies, drinking chocolate played a crucial role in religious life. The Aztecs believed cacao was given to humanity by the feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl, and it was reserved for nobility in the Aztec Empire. Chocolate was also used as a form of currency throughout Mesoamerica, and the Aztecs required conquered people to pay them with chocolate.

In the early 1500s, the explorer Cortez brought cocoa beans and chocolate-making tools to Europe, specifically Spain, where it gained popularity with the upper class and the court of King Charles V. The Spanish modified the recipe by removing chilli peppers and serving the drink hot and sweetened. It took over a hundred years for chocolate to spread across the rest of Europe.

Chocolate Houses in England

In the 1700s, chocolate houses, similar to modern coffee shops, became trendy in London, although chocolate remained expensive. The drink was particularly favoured by well-to-do gentlemen who would discuss the matters of the day over cups of rich spiced hot chocolate. However, these establishments also gained a reputation for anarchy, licentiousness, and sedition.

Milk Chocolate Innovations

In the late 1700s, Sir Hans Sloane, president of the Royal College of Physicians, introduced a recipe for mixing chocolate with milk, making the drink more palatable to the English. This innovation led to the creation of milk chocolate and further solidified the popularity of hot chocolate in Europe.

Industrial Revolution and Beyond

In 1828, Coenraad Johannes van Houten developed the first cocoa powder-producing machine in the Netherlands, making it easier to stir chocolate into milk and water. This discovery also led to the creation of solid chocolate bars. By the 19th century, hot chocolate transitioned from a medicinal drink to a special beverage, and it continues to be a beloved comfort drink worldwide today.

Frequently asked questions