You’re home from a long, hard day at work and need a refreshing drink to pick you up. Not just any drink. A warm and rich hot drink which rivals any pot of coffee or luxurious tea. That, my friends, is Haitian hot chocolate.
You might have come across this delicious drink under a different name, like chokola peyi or chocolat chaud. Just one cup is enough to lift your spirits and helps you feel nice and relaxed. The best part – our recipe is easy to make with ingredients you’ve already got in your pantry. You won’t have to worry about looking for Haitian hot chocolate sticks or chocolate balls to make our hot chocolate.
Unlike your typical “how to make hot cocoa” recipes, ours comes with top tips, ingredients you can substitute and serving suggestions for tasty treats. And, this isn’t your regular hot chocolate drink from your local coffee shop or ready-made powder sachets at the grocery store. Haitian hot chocolate is on a completely different level.
What is Haitian Hot Chocolate?
Haitian hot chocolate is world-famous for its flavor which you can’t achieve with regular hot chocolate drinks. These flavors explode in your mouth and come from top-tier ingredients harvested from the rich earth in Haiti.
What is Chokola Peyi?
The words “Chokola Peyi” literally means “country chocolate”. In Haitian creole, the word “peyi” is used to describe organic and natural. There are no nasty hidden ingredients, like artificial flavors, emulsifiers or soy lecithin.
Did you know: What is the difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate?
Hot chocolate has a signature deep and complex flavor from thick, melted chocolate. It can be sweetened or unsweetened (depending on how you like it). Hot cocoa, on the other hand, is made from cocoa powder, artificial flavors and sugar. This makes it taste flat and sweet.
What makes Haitian chocolate different from other chocolate?
Haitian Chocolate is made from raw cacao beans which are harvested from small plots of land in Haiti. These cacao beans grow in a fertile land alongside fruits and vegetables in a beautiful tropical climate.
Imagine all of your favorite foods from the Caribbeans – mangoes and oranges, plantain and yams. Each crop leaves its mark in the Haitian soil, so when your cacao beans are growing, they take on the different flavor notes already found in the ground.
These cacao beans are used to make Haitian chocolate, giving it a complex and rich flavor profile. So, your hot chocolate tastes even better (all thanks to our Haitian terroir)!
When do you drink Haitian hot chocolate?
This go-to hot chocolate is a staple at during major occasions, such as:
- Enjoying breakfast on Sunday mornings
- Celebrating holidays
- Baptisms with all of the family
- Providing comfort at funerals
You can drink Haitian hot chocolate all year-round.
Did you know: What country is known for hot chocolate?
Mexico is the country of origin for hot chocolate. Thousands of years ago, around 500 BC, the Mayan civilization grew cacao trees and discovered that you can create a delicious drink from its beans. Since then, hot chocolate has grown around the world and has become an important part of the Haitian cacao trade.
What does Haitian hot chocolate taste like?
The wondrous smell hits you first. All of the beautiful smells of the spices put into the chocolates. Next the silky texture which you have to savor in small sips. Only real Haitian hot chocolate can be this rich.
Typically made from unrefined cacao beans, Haitian hot chocolate is an authentic dark chocolate beverage. Mainstream chocolate is usually made with low cocoa content, added GMO sugars and artificial flavors to make it last longer on your supermarket shelves.
Not our Haitian chocolate.
You only get the best from natural and preservative-free cacao beans, including a higher cacao content. This all goes into your cup of hot chocolate with all of the health benefits of authentic Haitian chocolate.
Health Benefits of Haitian Chocolate
Haitian cacao is a superfood loaded with lots of natural minerals like magnesium, potassium and iron. It is also a natural appetite suppressant which helps to reduce your food cravings.
This means that you get lots of benefits when enjoying our Haitian chocolate, including:
1. Made from 100% natural ingredients.
You won’t risk harmful side effects from the sugar in our handcrafted bars like you would from GMO sugars
2. Satisfy your cravings.
You satisfy your cravings with a smaller portion of our chocolate bars so you can enjoy them longer
3. Improve your mood and happiness.
You feel happy and nourished instead of crashing from a sugar high. Studies have shown that there are multiple ingredients within chocolate that sends a neurotransmitter to your brain which makes you feel good.
Haitian Hot Chocolate Recipe
Now that you know exactly what makes Haitian hot chocolate delicious and good for you, let’s get down to the recipe. Our step-by-step guide shows you how to make hot chocolate at home in only 15 minutes.
Ingredients, Equipment & Recipe
Make your hot chocolate in only 15mins!
Prep Time: 5mins
Cook Time: 10mins
Total Time: 15mins
Servings: 2 cups
Ingredients
- 2oz Haitian chocolate bar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 8 oz evaporated milk
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 piece of ginger
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Wooden spoon
- Mesh sieve
Step-by-Step Recipe
- Measure 650ml of water and bring it to boil
- Add the cinnamon sticks, ginger, vanilla extract
- Add the chopped chocolate
- Stir the mix until completely melted
- Add the sugar and keep stirring
- Add the evaporated milk
- Lower the temperature and let the mix simmer for a bit
Then, just let it melt in your mouth and embrace the OOEEY goodness.
Top Tips for Making Hot Chocolate at Home
- Tip 1: Use a mesh sieve (if needed) to strain your hot chocolate liquid for a smoother taste.
- Tip 2: Evaporated milk can burn quickly if the heat is too high. Make sure you turn the heat down for this step.
- Tip 3: Strain your hot chocolate a second time to remove any residue before serving.
These tips ensure you enjoy your hot drink. But, this recipe is just the start.
Style Your Haitian Hot Chocolate Your Way
There are so many ways to enjoy Haitian hot chocolate depending on the ingredients you use to which snacks you pair it with.
The Best Haitian Chocolate to Use
The best Haitian chocolate bar for baking is found in our Baking & Hot Chocolate range. Here you can find baking blocks with 60% or 90% cacao content. These bars are well-suited for baking because they are easy to break up and melt evenly for a simple baking experience.
Askanya Chocolates values transparency and only uses natural and organic ingredients sourced ethically to craft our chocolates bars.
We currently use seven high-quality ingredients:
- Cacao Beans
- Sugar (both Standard and Rapadou, Artisanal Cane Sugar)
- Cacao Butter
- Milk
- Oranges
- Limes
- Sea Salt (Hand-picked)
Our single origin chocolates come in a range of different flavors. We also offer an extensive collection of vegan dark chocolate and dairy-free chocolate so you can tailor your Haitian hot chocolate to your specific taste.
Ingredients You Can Substitute in Your Recipe
- Evaporated milk – you can substitute this with a range of non-dairy milk alternatives like coconut or almond milk
- Cinnamon sticks – you can use a different spice like star anise or nutmeg
- Add Fruit – lemon zest, lime zest or orange zest… take your pick!
What to Serve with Haitian Hot Chocolate
Chokola Peyi can be served with a range of snacks to enjoy, either at breakfast or during your evening wind-down time. You can serve your drink with:
- Savory cassava and peanut butter
- Warm, buttery toast and guava jelly
- Classic whipped cream and dark chocolate shavings