Plain Hot Chocolate

Where to get a cuppa good hot-chocolate?

Many cafes have a tub of Cadburys drinking powder standing beside their super cool coffee machines. And it’s such a pity for me because I tend towards bittersweet flavour. Two years ago I had some fab hot-c from O’Connaill’s at the Middleton Farmer’s Market. It was rich, dark, creamy and came served with a few chocolate buttons on the side .. cute.

Back at home I’m happy to break, melt, stir and whatever else I need to do for my chocolate fix. My trusty companion in the kitchen, Alice Medrich author of Bittersweet, has a lovely simple recipe:

6oz of bittersweet chocolate

1.5 cups boiling water

1.5 cups milk

Place the chocolate in a saucepan. Pour in half the boiling water and stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Stir in the remaining water and all the milk. Heat over a medium heat whisking until the mixture is hot but not boiling. There is enough here for a few cups so I get to enjoy a cup … and then himself can reheat some later.

I tend not to use my best’est and normally most expensive (unfortunately) chocolate here. I prefer to keep that for tasting, pure and simple. But I’d have to like the taste of the product before I’d cook with it, maybe 70% Lindt (€2.08) or 74% Tesco (€1.53). Will Green & Blacks 70% will come down in price to compete soon (€2.83)?

I’ve also got a penchant for Green & Black’s Cocoa Powder. It makes a smooth bitter drink which needs just a little sweetening. Domori natural cocoa powder which I picked up in Thomas’ Foxrock did not yield as nice a flavor for me and towards the end of the cup I got grainy bits – poor me eh?