How to Make Xocolatl (Ancient Aztec Cocoa Drink)

[@daninb8939]

Good video! Only change I'd make would be to add honey instead of sugar, to keep it traditional. Thank you for investigating and respecting mesoamerican traditions.

[@UFOUAPMagnet]

Honey makes it taste weird 🤮

[@LemonMeIon]

Or agave syrup

[@a9five]

Yeah I'm Mexican, so I'm looking for ancient recipes.

[@nightbling8905]

Well if you wanted it traditional they wouldn’t use honey or sugar

[@EddyOver9000]

@@nightbling8905 they would originally use spices right?

[@Jorora_Dev]

Everything seemed about right but I think you should let people know that the traditional Aztec version does not use sugar. The word Xocolatl which is where we get Chocolate from actually means bitter drink in nahuatl ("Aztec"). The drink you've made instead is technically a bit more similar to a modern Mexican Hot Chocolate except the pepper might get swapped for cinnamon and the water might get swapped for milk solely because of the addition of sugar. I bring this up only because modern Mexican culture is heavily influenced (obviously) by Ancient Mexican culture ("Aztecs") and we make hot cocoa drinks like this but the biggest difference between us usually the introduction of sugar and stuff like that. Something small like that can turn something from an Aztec dish into a Mexican dish.

[@AidanCooks]

Thank you for the information! I used the recipe that was shown to us by the cocoa farmers in Costa Rica, but in hindsight I should have done more research on my own into what ingredients were available and used by Ancient Mexican communities at the time.

[@Jorora_Dev]

@@AidanCooks No worries! A lot of it was pretty close and it makes so much more sense if you got this recipe from farmers in Costa Rica 😂 Honestly most Mexicans would’ve probably agreed with this recipe to begin with but I’ve just done a lot of research into the cuisine and ingredients available to ancient Mexicans. I always find it hilarious explaining to people what Xocolatl actually means though and how contrary that is to the modern meaning of that word. I’m just glad you were open to learning a little more about that classic dish meant for royalty!

[@Tanookicatoon]

I was gonna say, this was closer to the recipe on the back on Abuelita cocoa mix.

[@Umekopyon]

Yeah, I was looking for something to show my students (who are learning about the history of chocolate in their English textbooks), and this video looked so promising when I've come across so much Mexican hot chocolate instead. The textbook specifically mentions the lack of sugar and bitterness, though, so it's unfortunate I'll have to look elsewhere in the interest of not confusing the kids. 😢 This was such a great video for me though!! I loved it!

[@iamalexandriarose]

@@Umekopyonhave a search for ceremonial cacao recipes and you’ll probably find something more like what you are looking for!

[@crankko9437]

wow its cool, the oldest mayan and aztec added chilli to the recipe in this days the people use corn, vanilla, sugar, chocolate and cinnamon is called champurrado in mexico and in my country Guatemala batido.

[@aladrasullivan9018]

Chili powder?

[@crankko9437]

@@aladrasullivan9018 mmm idk, maybe they only smashed chilli like "birdseye chilli" in to the beverage, someones chillies are more spicy than the powder, you can imagine how spicy is this beverage in this days in mexico or guatemala here there are an example.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qH2ugqprrJKporc

[@aladrasullivan9018]

@@crankko9437 thanks

[@TempleSpeedWay]

We make a modified version of this served as a hot mixed drink during the holidays at my pub. Quality video man. Cheers.

[@isldgal]

my Samoan friend from Australia roasts the cacao nibs and pounds them into a paste. there are little pieces left but they are nice to chew on

[@AidanCooks]

Good suggestion!

[@bernadetterocha3693]

Just fyi, regular cocoa powder has all the cocoa butter pressed out. The cocoa powder you made is from the nibs so it still has the cocoa butter. It will still be tasty but different for folk who don't know the difference.🤔

[@AidanCooks]

Thanks for the info! I hadn't thought of that distinction and how it could affect the flavor of the drink.

[@yamanmustafa7574]

Aztecs probably didn't use refined white sugar or vanilla extract.

[@SusScrofaVulgaris]

Good video to chill too. Thanks for the video.

[@at_jsmt_]

Hello. Doesn’t this drink get you drunk if drank too much

[@nrsimah6707]

I think I'll try substituting cocao nibs for coffee beans in my next brew. Thanks brah.

[@flymamma2666]

I do a blend of the 2....

[@aladrasullivan9018]

@@flymamma2666 how's it taste luv?

[@flymamma2666]

@@aladrasullivan9018 the 2 blended taste like a mocaCafe....its delish..funny thing tho since i started roasting breadnut & brewing it i havent brought any Coffee since...but i definitivamente make my chocolate 2...just made knock of milkyway yesterday

[@aladrasullivan9018]

@@flymamma2666 awesome thanks luv

[@flymamma2666]

@@aladrasullivan9018 my pleasure

[@FIipYap]

The king of the Aztecs would drink 50 quarts of hot chocolate every day.

[@freddee4295]

12.5 gallons , sure is a lot 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@gabrielsyoutubevlog]

Great video but I think it's not xocoatl (green snake?), I'm sure it's called xocolatl (chocolate). Hope this helps. Coatl means snake, and I think adding xo for xoxotic might mean green.

[@AidanCooks]

Ah ok, thanks for letting me know!

[@engineergaming3412]

Xocolatl translates to bitter drink xocol means bitter atl means drink

[@IVAN-hg6ei]

@@engineergaming3412 atl mostly means water too I think drink can be an other example of the word

[@codybrown3326]

Oh so this is where the cool kids hang out!😊

[@manda5111]

I can’t wait to try this!!

[@aladrasullivan9018]

How was it luv?

[@wilfriedolemans5862]

Xocolatl is not made with sugar! Cocoa nibs, chilis, salt and Lime juice.

[@mrgallbladder]

It's not authentic if you add refined sugar. Also the gritty texture in the first one would've been closer to what they actually drank in ancient Mesoamerica. But the real authentic kicker would've been chilly peppers, vanilla and cornmeal.

[@albertperez2292]

Great video! I’ll have to try making the drink. Hope you enjoyed Costa Rica.

[@AidanCooks]

Thanks! I did enjoy Costa Rica very much. Hope I can go back soon.

[@Emmaniak]

I just tried this and it was pretty good. Even with the spices the chocolate was definitely the dominant flavor for me and it was very watery. Also I added cinnamon to mine

[@nothanks131]

Did the Aztecs have sugar?

[@aidanlanz3114]

No I don't believe they did, but when they taught us to make it, they used sugar because it makes the drink more palatable.

[@malalalalala2985]

no they used Honey

[@RodrigoRamirez-gz3su]

They had honey and maize syrup

[@turnmeondeadman4221]

They were probably lean and shredded

[@MCPT59]

Great vid! Super interesting. I might actually go try it. Subscribed as well!

[@AidanCooks]

Thanks! Glad you liked it. New video likely coming out tomorrow.

[@lvh888]

White sugar? The Aztec people used dark sugar, I can't translate the exact word. But white sugar is heavily processed.

[@anon1muz726]

I doupt the Aztecs has vanilla extract or powder sugar

[@marciamarcia7449]

cocoa powder is so different from ground cocoa nibs

[@AlyxAesthetics]

they usually put chilli in

[@eonmoony]

awesome video!!!!!!!! so many fun surprises

[@AidanCooks]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed! ❤️

[@iannabridges4650]

Thanks for your recipe. I'm searching for cacao nibs recipes and how to transform them into drinking.

[@AidanCooks]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed!

[@FrenchToast1976]

Great video!

[@kangaroofuno]

Fun Fact: You can find cacao nibs at your local health food store

[@Robbie_Prz]

Very cool! Made this and of course delicious! Might I ask what you were studying in college when you guys got to go and research the ants in their native habitat? Zoology?

[@AidanCooks]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! This was actually a trip I did through my high school biology program, and we were focused on learning about the ecology of the ants as well as the unique antibiotic properties of the ants' fungal gardens. Overall, It was a very cool and informative trip! Here's a link to the organization that my school partnered with to do the program: www.socresearch.org/

[@Robbie_Prz]

@@AidanCooks Thanks so much for the reply and that is quite neat! I will look at it. Also I just found your videos the other day and love the content!

[@JeisonTheMystic]

Thank you! helped me needs.

[@jamesharris9528]

Good video. You might want to try a molinillo to make it more frothy.

[@AidanCooks]

I had to google what a molinillo was, but it looks really cool and would definitely be a great tool for adding more froth to the drink. Thanks for letting me know about it.

[@jamesharris9528]

@@AidanCooks They're great to have if you like hot chocolate. I live in San Antonio and there is a lot of Mexican food places that have Mexican hot chocolate. It's way better than regular hot chocolate. You use them to mix the hot chocolate. I don't know what magic it is but it makes a difference.

[@TheRoseGoldMary]

Grinder cacao nibs wouldn’t be “cocoa powder” it would be “raw cacao powder” because cocoa powder is the super processed version

[@sharondee2556]

The Maya or Aztecs would not have used sugar...maybe honey. Sugar was not in use until after the conquest.

[@mroogilyboogily9207]

Awesome

[@ClockWerkOrange]

Dude, I couldn’t get passed the cheesiness and the cupboards

[@GinaLovestocraft]

Great video

[@AidanCooks]

Thanks!

[@ShinpenKyojitsu]

Cacaohuatl is more correctly pronounced “Kaka-hwaht” ❤️

[@ShinpenKyojitsu]

The alternative Xocolatl is “Shoko-laht”

[@AidanCooks]

Ah ok. Thanks for letting me know!

[@TheRojo387]

@@ShinpenKyojitsu Sounds like "Szokolai".

[@victorl3969]

I have a question. Is Cacaohuatl and Xocolatl the same thing?

[@ShinpenKyojitsu]

@@victorl3969 similar or even the same in ingredients however some sources refer to xocolatl being heated and cacaohuatl being served at room temp. Cacaohuatl in some places was and is fermented vs xocolatl is likely where “hot chocolate” got its start. So they can be the same but the are prepared differently. 👍

[@daddadpl]

Great now i can attempt this without sugar cause not everything needs to be sweet

[@frisco9568]

How did our culture get to Costa Rica??

[@aladrasullivan9018]

Google!

[@flaviolozoya]

There was no sugar in the original

[@AidanCooks]

Yes, that is correct. I was told they used honey and maize syrup instead. When I had it in Costa Rica, they used sugar so I was just following that recipe.

[@funfan515]

I doubt, that there was any sugar used by the Ancient Aztecs…🤔

[@rc59191]

It's amazing how the Aztecs were culinary geniuses while at the same time sacrificing people alive and piercing their willies.

[@philipcoriolis6614]

So were our ancestors until Christianity came.

[@rc59191]

@@philipcoriolis6614 as bad as that may of been for people it at least in a way united Europe against a common enemy that would of overran us If we were still a bunch of divided pagan kingdoms stuck In the dark ages.

[@philipcoriolis6614]

@@rc59191 I agree.

[@jesuslopez9223]

Actaully most sacrafice where good controlled population, protected from people losing its ethics, and becoming liberals . Also scarafices where a priviledge only people who proved them selves could choose to be sacraficed. Also. Remember whites are known for rewriting history to fit there narrative. For example did you know usa illegally attacked aztecs and mexico actual laws where broken. Also they where very peaceful aztecs where 7 tribes. Also aztecs have the most peaceful history until they where backstabbed.

[@jesuslopez9223]

Choosing to be scaraficed is better than genocide and rape.

[@Wintermute0168]

Bevis-"He said 'cock cow nibs'" Butt-Head-"heh-heh"

[@johnconner9400]

Indigenous did not have sugar so it’s not authentic

[@elcarecochilightning7492]

Xococoatl

[@markusbg8]

Sugar in Aztec chocolate?!?!

[@mexicanwitharock]

The name of the chocolate beverage means fire breathing serpent and is the name of a Mexican assault rifle.

[@AidanCooks]

Interesting. I didn't know that.

[@TofuTheTrashFox]

I thought it was Xiuhcoatl, that means "Fire Serpent." Xocolatl is the word you're looking for.

[@mexicanwitharock]

@@TofuTheTrashFox your right sorry been awhile since I remember the name thanks

[@amyh3873]

I never think of drinking opaque drinks like coffee or chocolate when I'm thirsty. I usually go for juices or water in that instance. Coffee and cold or hot chocolate are more for when I'm hungry

[@aladrasullivan9018]

And?

[@barbiefairytopia2803]

are you the boy that sings lady gaga?

[@engineergaming3412]

Actually we prefer to be called mexica Aztec is a term the colonizers gave us please refrain from using that word thanks also it is pronounced sh o c o l a t the tl in the Nahuatl language is silent and x is pronounced sh

[@AidanCooks]

Thank you for the information on the name and the pronunciation! I wasn't aware of the history behind the name, but I will be sure to use the preferred name in the future.

[@kittycatwithinternetaccess2356]

dont use slurs

[@dranflame_1236]

Why does this have so many dislikes?

[@gabrielsyoutubevlog]

Might be for some of the miss pronouncing of some words, idk, I understand Nahuatl but thought his video was great. But I guess some people just dislike because of small things.

[@Tanookicatoon]

I basically waited to hear how you would say Xocolatl, and boy you said it VERY WRONG. It is NOT Choke-oh-waddle. 😂 You literally say it the same way you would in Spanish, "Chocolate" but instead it's "Shokol-atɬ". It's not a solid T at the end, but like you're saying TH with your molars. You also keep saying "cocoa" instead of cacao. I don't know why. It's even written on the bag. Cocoa is always just hot chocolate mix. Cacao is raw bean powder. In addition. Most people say they did not sweeten this drink with sugar. Why does everyone forget they had bees? Honey is a period accurate sweetener for this drink, and it actually does taste great. Milk was not available, BUT, they did have eggs. If you want a thicker drink, try adding an egg to this.

[@manda5111]

I hope everyone who watches this hits subscribes and likes it

[@YoVamp]

I came here from a reference in polar express😂

[@BeastBugs]

This is not the the traditional aztec way, misinformation. This is how it was made after the spainish brought to Europe. The way the aztecs made it was much more bitter, no vanilla, sugar and this other stuff.

[@V4NDIT]

Xocolatl = (Sho-Ko-Ah-Thl )

[@brze3605]

Hi Aidan

[@AidanCooks]

Hello Aidan!

[@pinglino9889]

I love food

[@AidanCooks]

Me too

[@neilbonotan8720]

i have a magic bullet blender in the Philippines :)))

[@AidanCooks]

It's a pretty good blender for smaller stuff 😅

[@trainlover11playzgoodbyetr4]

Polar Express anyone?

[@SusScrofaVulgaris]

Don't forget the blood.

[@johnconner9400]

Background music is absolutely annoying

[@LukeA1223]

lost me at the sugar

[@WillowWasp]

Oh frick you're adorable

[@viorelhurtoi544]

Adevărata rețeta are și "paprica" ardei iute 😝

[@lifeaquatic7407]

White sugar, red pepper flakes, blender, coffee grinder… Ancient recipe?! Wtf!