How to make Colombian hot chocolate

Chocolate Caliente Con Queso en Colombia 🇨🇴

Living in Colombia for the past two years, I’ve immersed myself in learning Spanish and gaining a great appreciation for the people and culture. From participating in the dancing of salsa, bachata, and merengue at house parties and discotecas (clubs), eating arepas with most meals and practicing patience with a slower pace of life, including relaxing with a delicious cup of Colombian hot chocolate. Now, Colombian hot chocolate is special for several reasons. First, the chocolate in Colombia is considered by many to be one of the world's best-tasting chocolates due to the climate and geography. Second, the hot chocolate flavor is enhanced with a mild salty taste - from cheese. That’s right, cheese. For most people not familiar with Colombian culture, this can sound odd. In Spanish, this is known as chocolate caliente con queso. When I first learned about this drink, I thought it was a joke. But sure enough, there is a long tradition of drinking cocoa, made with either water or milk, and adding cheese. I've learned that Colombians have rich resources in coffee, cheese, and chocolate. I find it easy to consume 1-2 cups of hot chocolate daily because it is offered at most coffee shops, restaurants, and homes. 

Columbian-made hot chocolate is less sweet of a cup than one might enjoy in the U.S. or Europe. However, its combination with higher levels of cocoa, less sugar, and the added cheese ingredient provides comfort and relaxation when drinking (and eating) with friends and family. This has become one of my favorite pleasures when living in Colombia, especially for staying warm in the colder areas of the country.  While living in Santa Rosa de Cabal, a small town in the west central part of Colombia, having a cup of hot chocolate in the morning or evening provides moments in my day to more fully appreciate where I live and my life.

To enjoy your own hot chocolate with cheese mindfulness moments, here is the recipe (this example is for four servings, which can easily be adapted to make fewer or more servings):

Recipe for chocolate caliente con queso estilo de Colombia (Columbian style)

Ingredients and Items needed to make four servings:

• Chocolate (100%) cacao produced in Colombia - used four small bars of chocolate
• Shredded chocolate - used two small bars of chocolate 
• Milk - (about 4 cups) Whole milk (preferable)
• Cinnamon - 1/2 teaspoons 
• Mozzarella cheese - cut into sixteen cubes and placed into cups (a variety of cheeses work. For best results, a cheese that is both creamy and firm)
• Drinking mugs/cups - 4 cups
• Chocolatera - used to place the hot chocolate for whisking. You can also use a pan or pitcher for mixing. A Chocolatera is a high-necked metal pitcher used to prepare hot chocolate drinks in Spain, Latin America, and the Philippines.
• Molinillo - used to whisk the hot chocolate. Traditionally a tool used in Latin America and the Philippines. A blender will also work well.
• Saucepan - used for warming up the hot chocolate before placing it into the chocolatera
• Stove - to make this Colombian tradition come to life, I will harness the power of the stove.

Now that we have covered our items, here are the steps to produce the hot chocolate with cheese that Willie Wonka wishes he sold at his chocolate factory. 

Steps

Step 1 - Cut cheese into sixteen cubes and place four cubes into each cup.

Step 2 - Add milk into the saucepan and turn on the burner to medium heat.

Step 3 - As the milk begins to simmer, add the four chocolate bars and cinnamon, and continue simmering and stirring until the chocolate is fully melted and all is mixed together. 

Step 4 - Once the chocolate bars are fully melted, and the milk is at a low boil, turn the burner off and pour the milk from the saucepan into the Chocolatera. It is time to use our molinillo to whip and create a nice frothy texture. I like to think of the motion of molinillo as rubbing your hands together when your hands are freezing to warm them up. Or if you ever had to make a fire by hand, it is a similar motion, ensuring you continually transfer your energy from your hands to the molinillo. 

Step 5 - Now that our hot chocolate is nice and frothy, pour it into the cups over the cheese and wait a few minutes for the cheese to melt before serving. 

Step 6 - While the cheese melts, sprinkle the shredded chocolate on top.

Step 7 - Now the drink is ready, and time for the best part! Enjoy this hot chocolate with friends and family! When having it for breakfast, I recommend having it with eggs and arepas, and croissants- good for drinking! Vamos! And in case you are unfamiliar with it, an arepa is found throughout Colombia and Venezuela; a traditional arepa is made out of ground corn, cooked and in the shape of a circle that can have filling inside of cheese, potatoes, and meats. Enjoy!