- The inspiration
Did you know that the origins of drinking chocolate started as long ago as 500 B.C.? Cacao originated in central and south America and the Mayans, (indigenous people of Mexico) would make a drink from it. The Mayans would grind up cacao beans with water, cornmeal, chilli, honey and spices such as allspice. They would mix the drink by pouring it back and forth from a cup to a pot until a thick foam developed. They would then enjoy the drink.
The Aztecs, arrived in Mesoamerica around the beginning of the 13th century. Their exit origins are unknown, but it is likely that they originated from a nomadic tribe from Mexico. The Aztecs appreciated cacao even more than the Mayans. They believed cacao beans to be a gift from Quetzalcoatl, the god of wisdom. The seeds had such value that they were also used as form of currency. Like the Mayans, they enjoyed the caffeinated kick of hot or cold, spiced chocolate beverages in ornate containers, but they also used cacao beans as currency to buy food and other goods. In Aztec culture, cacao beans were considered more valuable than gold.
The flavours included in our Aztec bar are inspired from the those used by the Mayans and Aztecs in their cacao drinks.
2. The Ingredients
We have written separate blogs about our ingredients used in our bars, so just click on our blog link and you can read more about them there. We think all our ingredients are pretty special as they are all organic and all have a nutritional benefit for your body and mind. Palmyra blossom nectar is used to sweeten all our bars and its amazing benefits can be found in our blog.
We flavour our Aztec bar with vanilla, chilli, allspice and raw honey. The combination of these spices and a little taste of honey is truly sublime and they work so well together. The chilli isn’t too hot but it is just enough to give a lovely warm feeling after eating a piece.
We choose to use raw honey from a local supplier, The Travelling Bee Company that supports bee conservation and educates people about the ecology and importance of bees.
3. Our label
Our pattern for our our label is a true Mexican design. We love its vibrant patterns and bold colours and think it matches the spices and flavours in the bar really well. We often get great comments about our labels and how they look like works of art. We put a lot of effort into the making of our bars and so we wanted something special to reflect this!
Thanks to all at Perro Design for making our bars come alive!
4. Its versatility
We adore Mexican/South American food. Have you tried Aztec in your cooking yet? We add small amounts to our chillis as it adds real depth and flavour. You can also make a mole sauce with it too. We’ll be bringing out more recipes in the future so keep an eye out on our website for ideas.
If like us you enjoy a glass or red wine or malt whiskey now and again, Aztec’s spiciness is a perfect accompaniment!
If you try any of these be sure to tag us or send us a message letting us know what you think!
5. Travel
As with all our bars, they are all inspired by travel to different parts of the world. Although we haven’t visited Mexico, or other parts of Central/ South America yet, it’s on our bucket list! Just eating it can fire up our enthusiasm to go exploring and imagining what it’s like to visit there.
If you’ve been to Mexico or other parts of Central or South America, be sure to tell us about it! If you’ve tried cacao drinks in these parts of the world try our Aztec bar and let us know if we’ve got the flavours right!
Recent Comments