Colombia Cocoa Helps Warm Things Up

Cups of steaming cocoa wait to be sipped

I LOVE hot cocoa. As the weather is starting to turn a bit cooler it is such a decadent treat. I was delighted to discover a new type of cocoa recently when Sergio, the Colombian friend of my dear friend Lara, came to Chicago. Lara had raved about the cocoa they drink in Colombia for breakfast and had brought back some of the ingredients and tools that are traditionally used to make the drink.

Sergio chops the mild cheese and explains the cocoa making process

Lara gets ready to froth the cocoa

The dense chocolate was chopped and melted with heated milk then frothed and poured into waiting cups. There was a mild cheese chopped for putting inside the cocoa (Sergio explained it usually melts at the bottom) and a think pan de mie/challah bread used for dipping.

The drink was delicious. I wouldn't mind having some more and might want to start planning a trip to South America to have the authentic experience myself!