‘A Cup of Hot Chocolate’ Set

A set of three 115g bags of our hot chocolates, with a replica 18th century chocolate drinking cup, in a wicker hamper.

These three Hot Chocolates represent the development of chocolate from its early history in Spain to the days of Chocolate Houses and its introduction into the English home during the 18^th century, through to the plainer tastes of the Victorian period.

1685 Hot Chocolate (115g)

This recipe is based on Antonio de Ledesma’s 1685 medicinal recipe for chocolate. Newly arrived from Central America, chocolate was only consumed as a drink, and this is one of the earliest European recipes. The Aztec chilli is still used, combined with orange and other spices. It is equally delicious as a chilled chocolate drink. For more details incuding ingredients see here.

1741 Hot Chocolate (115g)

This is a very rich, dark, hot chocolate. Chocolate in the 18th century was still consumed mainly as a drink, and had evolved since the 17th century into something we would recognise today. This hot chocolate is based on recipes from the 1740s and still uses long pepper to add a hint of hot floral spice, with the warm citrus flavour of cardamom. This chocolate also makes a chilled drink. For more details incuding ingredients see here.

Victorian Hot Chocolate (115g)

This product is made with dark chocolate, with just a hint of vanilla. During the Victorian period, there was a reaction against adding strong or extra flavours to chocolate. This led to a move towards simpler tastes, including the purer flavour of this hot chocolate. For more details incuding ingredients see here.

Chocolate Drinking Cup

The cup included with these hot chocolates is a handmade replica of a ‘London delft blue and white’ chocolate cup from around 1720. Chocolate in the past was thicker and richer than we might expect today, often served in small handleless cups such as these.  Our replicas are produced for The Copper Pot by Annotts Pots (www.facebook.com/annottspots).