Hot Chocolate Vs Hot Cocoa


Which is healthier, Hot Chocolate or Hot Cocoa ? Intriguing ,I assumed both were same.Investigating in to the ingredients,apparently the Hot cocoa made with cocoa powder is certainly more concentrated in antioxidants(called Flavonoids) than the Hot Chocolate made with melted chocolate.Although a hot chocolate can also be healthier if Dark chocolate with at least 60% cocoa is used instead of sweet Milk chocolate.

The Mayans who discovered the cocoa ,consumed it with spices and no sugar,so next time you see cocoa or chocolate in a savory dish,you know its the original Mayan style to relish cocoa.The sweetened form of cocoa called the milk chocolate was later introduced by the Europeans which quickly became popular and addictive.
How important are the antioxidants for good health?,simply put ,antioxidants helps stay younger,heart healthy and protect against cancers.

So whether hot chocolate or hot cocoa try to incorporate more of the cocoa instead of the sweetness to get the most health benefits.
For Hot Cocoa
Ingredients
2 tablespoon Cocoa powder
2 cups of reduced fat Organic Milk
2 tablespoon sugar or 2 teaspoon honey or date syrup
1 cinnamon stick
2 tablespoon water.

Method
Mix the cocoa powder with water and keep aside.Bring milk to a slow boil along with the cinnamon stick and add the cocoa mixture and sugar in to the milk,stir well until nicely incorporated.Remove the cinnamon stick.Pour in the serving mugs.

For Hot Chocolate with Dark Chocolate
Ingredients
2 cups reduced fat Organic Milk
1/2 cup(about 4oz) good quality dark chocolate ,coarsely chopped

Method
Heat the milk with the chopped chocolate and stir occasionally until melted and smooth about 10 minutes on medium heat.Serve in latte cups and serve hot.

An Interesting Read
Antioxidant activity of Flavonoids affected by addition of milk to cocoa.

Snowed Under!
That's my Camry snowed under.Average snowfall a year is between 60-100 inches in the snow belt of North East Ohio,Cool!


Snow cones any one?

Icicles,feels like Arctic Wonderland.


Blessed to be sipping the mug of Hot cocoa to beat the nip in the air.

Comments

FH said…
Great info. I like dark chocolate better than cocoa pd. Either one makes a great hot drink for winter day. So much snow there. We have chilly weather here but it might snow in Feb, never know! :)
Anjum said…
nice information...i dint think so much before making the two...i love the pictures as well
Finla said…
Looks like you all were really snowed under.
Here too it was really cold, we didnt' had snow, but the lake next to our ome was frozen and all of us were ice skating there.
Varsha Vipins said…
Il try both Yasmeen..:)..loved the icy pics..Same pitch for two things..The Camry n the choco cup..:D
Ivy said…
Hey, we've got the same mug. Great information. Wish I had a hot cup of hot chocolate right now. Lovely pictures.
Uma said…
wow, very nice info Yasmeen! I like both kinds! Thanks for the beautiful snow pics. Wish I were there! We don't get snow in the part of CA where I live.
anudivya said…
I like dark chocolate too, tried it yesterday with a little cayenne pepper (LOL) Got enamored with it after seeing the movie "Chocolat"... If you like chocolates and Johnny Depp, you should watch that movie! Amazing.
Gita Jaishankar said…
I love the richness of hot chocolate than the hot cocoa, love a cup of hot cocoa or chocolate on chilly evening watching the snow, lovely pictures Yasmeen :)
hmm...hot cocoa is my thing although dh is more of milk choc kind..if at all he eats choc..lol.

thanks for the interesting info abt Mayans...

n yes congrats on winning..hd seen the update yesterday but was in a rush so cudn't wish u :)
Preety said…
i love sweet things so i m up for both..wow so much of snow..here in bay area it never snow:( love the pics also
Anonymous said…
The snowy pictures are awesome and seems hot choco is a perfect combination..
Cham said…
I don't know if you know that: After eating dark choco we should avoid drinking milk, milk will reduce the antioxidant level so I assume mixing in milk might reduce the antioxidant!
I ve seen for five years snow in East coast and now It is years I am missing... Great snap with perfect hot choco....
Anonymous said…
Yasmeen, Thanks for sharing the info. I feel like making a glass of hot cocoa right now to warm myself up :-)
Oh, I'm sick seeing piles of slushy snow everywhere at my place too. I am eagerly waiting for summer!
Bharti said…
Oh Yasmeen, the weather is the same here! Both the hot cocoa and the chocolate look yummy. I usually go for one or another depending on how generous I'm feeling toward myself ;-).
Unknown said…
thats a nice info..even assumes both were same..lovely pictures..
lubnakarim06 said…
Hot and snowy post... Love to have a cuppa... Hey Congrats on winning the cake challenge...
Nazarina A said…
A nice warm endearing gesture such as your cocoa is always good on a snowy day!
I also partake in a cup of Milo every so often. Have you tried Milo? This drink has an abundance of B vitamins and magnesium for energy and is a chocolate malted beverage.
Raks said…
Wow! Hot ccocoa in such a cold winter! Great!
Maria Verivaki said…
the perfect time to stay at home and enjoy a cuppa i think!
Rajani said…
i like cocoa more than chocolate but in a winter like yours i'll say yes to anything tHATS smoking.
Uj said…
Very nice info... I too never knew so much about them.. You have had lot of snow.. Very nice pics.. Its very cold here sub zero temp but no snow..
Priya Suresh said…
WOw loved those snow pictures...love both choco n cocoa...
Dershana said…
Hi dear, am back.

Lovely pics... Am a hard core fan of Hot cocoa..Yes, I mean the pure, unsweetened variety. Love it more since I read up that its good the for the lil fella inside :-)
Yasmeen said…
Thank you all:)
Cham,that is an interesting fact I was reading too.Now that you have mentioned it,I'll include a link about the study.thanks:)
NAVAL LANGA said…
Ms. Yasmeen

Thanks for providing me with the link for three column template. I will try it out.

Naval Langa
LIFESTYLE AND RELATIONSHIP
Indian Khana said…
I don't like dark chocolate...infact I dont like hot chocolate too :-)...but very ud info and the pics are cool...love all the snaps...
CurryLeaf said…
I love hot chocolate.I try versions with cocoa pdr,nestle mixes and chocolate syrup.I also spice it up with cinnamon,cayenne pepper and once tried with red chilli dunk in milk. :).The cuppa is inviting.Thanks for the info.Its definitely useful.Better consume healthy drinks,than go just for taste.:)
I stay in NJ ,here also its the same situation.Hot chocolate is a must.
Jaishree Iyer said…
The snowy pictures are awesome ..Gr8 snaps..Nice information..hot choco is a perfect combination..yum
Srikitchen said…
wow! lovely shots! hope u r enjoying the snowy winter well!
oh my god. i cannnot survive in that kind of weather.. especially after seeing 80F here in LA in January :))

hot choc is perfect for this weather.
AnuSriram said…
Thats a nice piece of info. Snow pics are wonderful!
syeda said…
wow, the hot chocolate looks perfect for such snowy time...
Anonymous said…
Just a quick look at your BLOG,and I actually found something very interesting.You know at work I almost always get cocoa for my break.I'm glad it contains something that makes you younger ;)!
Nice pictures of a snowy wonderland.Really...you're lucky to be able to drink cocoa and looking at this white wonder :)!
Dee said…
I grew up drinking hot cocoa, but now it's hot chocolate all the way :) It's 30C here in Malaysia, the birds are singing, the trees are green, but sometimes a season change would be welcome.
Sharmila said…
Even I thought they were nmore or less the same ... never gave a thought to what is in that mugful in my hand. :-)
The snaps are beautiful! :-)
Anonymous said…
I always thought they were one and the same as well. Thanks for the info!
Nice and good info yasmeen.. pics are gr8.. feel like i am there on seeing and reading abt the snow.

hey that cuppa r u giving to me..wait dear i m on the way to get it.
notyet100 said…
lovely pics,..lookin t the snow i am shiverin out here,..nd gonn try both the drinks soon,..nice info too,.:-)
Vibaas said…
it's so cold these days that i dont mind either :) snow pics are nice. reminds me of the days i lived in michigan and makes me feel thankful that i moved down south :)
Maggie said…
I've never seen date syrup, is it something you buy or make?
Yasmeen said…
Maggie,the date syrup is commonly available in middle eastern stores.
SHIVA said…
Nice blog, thanks for sharing such a nice blog.

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