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Cuckoo For Cocoa

Tina Lernø, Librarian, Digital Content Team,
cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows

December 13 is National Cocoa Day. Don't confuse it with Hot Chocolate Day, which is its own holiday and celebrated on January 31. I thought they were the same thing but after a bit of research realized the terms are used interchangeably, and they are actually two different beverages!

Hot cocoa is made from cocoa powder, (a process in which the cocoa butter is removed from it) and hot chocolate is made from melted chocolate (all the cocoa butter) and is sometimes known as sipping chocolate. Because there are no actual government regulations on the name and the ingredients, companies can use any name they like that suits their marketing needs. Most of the instant varieties of "Hot Chocolate" are actually hot cocoa. They say things like, "Hot Cocoa: Milk Chocolate Flavor", or "Hot Chocolate: Hot Cocoa Mix".

The real question is, how am I going to celebrate the day, and what's the best mix for hot cocoa? I looked to our featured database, A to Z World Food for inspiration and recipe ideas. I did a basic search using the word cocoa, and it came up with some interesting facts about cocoa, like where it's grown and how it's produced.

screen shot from the A to Z World Food database
Search results from A to Z World Food.

Did you know that the cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao) is native to the tropical zones of Central and South America and has been cultivated since at least 1,900 BCE? It was introduced to Europe by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. Nowadays, Côte d’Ivoire is the largest producer of cocoa in the world and Ghana is the second. Cadbury, the largest British chocolate manufacturer, imports 90 percent of its cocoa from Ghana.

cacao beans and fruit
Cocoa powder comes from the beans of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao) and is the basis of chocolate. Each pod contains 20 to 60 beans.

I also found some tasty looking recipes. I will definitely be trying Kakósúpa (cocoa soup), which is Iceland’s version of hot chocolate. There's also the Ecuadorian hot chocolate recipe which includes both cocoa powder and bittersweet chocolate. Many versions contain a type of soft cheese, which can range from cream cheese to sweet mozzarella.

Icelandic hot chocolate on an old wood table

Kakósúpa (cocoa soup), Iceland’s version of hot chocolate (also called súkkulaði).This favorite is enjoyed with dollops of whipped cream on top, requiring a spoon for digging into and scooping up the soup to fully indulge in its heartwarming goodness.

If you can't get enough of the chocolatey sweet stuff and want to learn more, here is a selection of books about the best bean around!


Hot Cocoa and Beyond


Book cover for Hot Chocolate
Hot Chocolate
Turback, Michael.

Book cover for Chocolate Alchemy: A Bean to Bar Primer: Creating Your Own Truffles, Candies, Cakes, Fudge and Sipping Chocolates
Chocolate Alchemy: A Bean to Bar Primer: Creating Your Own Truffles, Candies, Cakes, Fudge and Sipping Chocolates
Hard, Kristen.

Book cover for Hot Drinks: Cider, Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate, Spiced Punch, Spirits
Hot Drinks: Cider, Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate, Spiced Punch, Spirits
Heiss, Mary Lou

Book cover for The Science of Chocolate
The Science of Chocolate
Beckett, S. T.

Book cover for The Chocolate Tree: A Natural History of Cacao
The Chocolate Tree: A Natural History of Cacao
Young, Allen M.

Book cover for Making Chocolate: From Bean to Bar to S'More
Making Chocolate: From Bean to Bar to S'More
Masonis, Todd,

Book cover for Hot Drinks for Cold Nights: Great Hot Chocolates, Tasty Teas & Cozy Coffee Drinks
Hot Drinks for Cold Nights: Great Hot Chocolates, Tasty Teas & Cozy Coffee Drinks
Krissoff, Liana.

Book cover for Bean-to-Bar Chocolate: America's Craft Chocolate Revolution
Bean-to-Bar Chocolate: America's Craft Chocolate Revolution
Giller, Megan,


 

 

 

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