Mar
22
2007
Global Warming: Hot Chocolate
Filed under Beverages, Miscellaneous

Some friends and I meet once a fortnight to talk and linger over cups of hot chocolate - we call this gathering HotChA, our Hot Chocolate Appreciation nights. We’ve had some really wonderful cups of hot chocolate this winter and last winter, and more than a few engaging and energetic conversations. Hot chocolate and warm company have really brightened my winter nights.

As the winter winds to a close (it’s still plenty cold in New York, despite today being the first official day of spring), we’ve started planning a HotChA at home event, with homemade marshmallows, homemade hot chocolate, and special guest appearances from hot chocolates around the world. Here are the current fruit of my Internet research:

  • Valor Chocolate a la Taza — Thick Spanish (from Spain) hot chocolate, suitable for dipping churros. [via 101cookbooks]
  • Mayordomo — Oaxacan hot chocolate. Apparently the best commonly available Mexican hot chocolate tablets. Comes in three flavors: original, cinnamon, and almond. [via Chowhound]
  • Susan Trilling’s Oaxacan Hot Chocolate — A small-batch manufacturer of Oaxacan drinking chocolate. Many egullet and chowhound folk swear by it.
  • dark spanish drinking chocolate from enrico rovira — Found this one just by poking around the Zingerman’s web site. Looks really intriguing, but a little pricey for an unproved quantity.
  • Filipino Tsokolate — Sounds similar to Mexican hot chocolate, even with the wooden aerator and all. I can’t seem to find any stores online that sell Tsokolate tableas, but there are apparently a couple of Filipino grocery stores in Jackson Heights. I will do some on-the-street research!

As a special bonus, I also found antique chocolate truffles on Zingerman’s. Claims to have large crunchy crystals of sugar in the truffles, and I’m always all over the large crunchy crystals. I love the textural difference.

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Aug
3
2005
Today’s Tea - White Peony
Filed under Beverages

I intend to host a traditional afternoon tea next Thursday, but at night instead of during the afternoon (work and whatnot, you know). In advance of that date, I have ordered some new teas from Adagio using my $5 coupon from Erin. By the way, if anyone wants $5 coupons, I have some to give away. Now that I have a number of teas on hand, perhaps we’ll do a tea tasting next Thursday, much like the ramen tasting we did a while ago.

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Today’s tea was a white peony tea packaged by Adagio Teas, called White A Cappella. This tea tasted a little astringent, but there was almost no bitterness. I don’t think this would make a good relaxation tea, which is a pity, as I tried it late at night. It’d make a great morning tea. Very up and at ‘em.

Overall, I think I still prefer the great white oolong I tried a few months ago. The white oolong was complex and flavorful, with a mellow, almost savory taste that lingered pleasantly in my mouth. No bitterness and very little astringency, but the white oolong still packed a punch with great flavor.

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