The Natural History of Chocolate: Being a Distinct and Particular Account of the Cocoa-Tree, its Growth and Culture, and the Preparation, Excellent Properties, and Medicinal Vertues of its FruitQuélus, D.
Science
The Natural History of Chocolate: Being a Distinct and Particular Account of the Cocoa-Tree, its Growth and Culture, and the Preparation, Excellent Properties, and Medicinal Vertues of its Fruit
Quélus, D.
Cacao -- Early works to 1800; Chocolate -- Early works to 1800
They put this Mixture into a Chocolate-Pot with a new-laid Egg[3],
both White and Yolk; then mix all well together with the Mill, and bring
it to the Consistence of Liquid Honey, upon which they afterwards pour
boiling Liquor[4], (Milk or Water, as is liked best) at the same time
using the Mill that they may be well incorporated together.
Afterwards they put the Chocolate-Pot on the Fire, or in a Kettle of
boiling Water; and when the Chocolate rises, they take it off, and
having well mill'd it, they pour it into the Dishes. To make the Taste
more exquisite, one may, before it is poured out, add a Spoonful of
Orange-Flower Water, wherein a Drop or two of Essence of Amber has been
put.
This Manner of making Chocolate has several Advantages above any other,
and which render it preferable to them all.
In the first place, one may assert, that being well managed, it has a
very agreeable Smell, and a peculiar Delicacy in the Taste; besides, it
passes very easily off the Stomach, nor leaves any Settling either in
the Chocolate-Pot, or in the Dishes.
In the second place, one has the Satisfaction to prepare it one's self
to one's own Taste, to encrease or diminish at pleasure the Quantities
of Sugar or Cinnamon, and to add or leave out the Orange-Flower Water,
or Essence of Amber; and, in a word, to make any other Alteration that
shall be most agreeable.
In the third place, they make no Additions that destroy the good
Qualities of the Kernels; it is so temperate, that it may be taken at
all Times, and by all Ages, in Summer as well as in Winter, without
fearing the least Inconveniency: Whereas _Chocolate_ season'd with
_Vanilla_, and other hot and biting Ingredients, cannot but be very
pernicious, especially in Summer, to young People, and to dry
Constitutions. The Glass of cold Water that they have introduced to
drink before it, or after it, only serves to palliate the Effects for a
Time; for the Heat that attends it, will manifest itself in the Blood
and _Viscera_, when the Water is drain'd off and gone, by the ordinary
ways.
In the fourth place, a Dish is so cheap, as not to come to above a
Penny. If Tradesmen and Artizans were once aware of it, there are few
who would not take the Advantage of so easy a Method of Breakfasting so
agreeably, at so small a Charge, and to be well supported till
Dinner-time, without taking any other Sustenance, Solid or Liquid.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Or rather grate it with a flat Grater, when the Cakes are so dry
that they will not be so easily scraped with a Knife.
[2] Because if it was in a Lump, it would weigh more than double the
Quantity of scraped Chocolate.
[3] The oily Parts of the Chocolate would not readily unite with the
aqueous or watry Parts of the Liquor, without the Intervention of the
Egg, which serves as a common Bond, without which this Drink would not
have a good Head.
[4] The Proportion of Liquor should be about eight Ounces, or half a
Pint, to one Ounce of Chocolate.
SECT. II.
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