chocolate caliente
everyday, Mexico
In Mexico hot chocolate is chocolate caliente. A thicker version made with corn masa is champurrado, often served with tamales, and chocolate de agua is made with water instead of milk.
Meaning: warm chocolate drink (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| chocolate caliente | everyday, Mexico |
| Champurrado | thick, with corn masa |
| Chocolate de agua | made with water |
Mexican hot chocolate is often made from tablets of ground cacao with sugar and cinnamon, mixed in a jug and frothed with a wooden molinillo.
Which one should you use?
Chocolate de leche uses milk and chocolate de agua uses water. Champurrado is thicker because of the masa and is a separate drink.
When do people say it?
Many Mexican families have chocolate caliente and pan dulce for dinner, or champurrado with tamales at Candlemas and Christmas.
Did you know?
- The wooden whisk called a molinillo is rolled between the hands to make the chocolate foamy.
Examples in context
- Quiero un chocolate caliente.I want a hot chocolate.
- Sirve el champurrado con los tamales.Serve the champurrado with the tamales.
- Mi mamá lo bate con molinillo.My mom whisks it with a molinillo.
Example conversation
Abuela serves a cold evening snack to her grandson Tomás in Puebla.
- AbuelaTomás, ¿quieres chocolate caliente?Tomás, do you want hot chocolate?
- TomásSí, con pan dulce.Yes, with sweet bread.
- AbuelaTen cuidado, está bien caliente.Be careful, it is very hot.
