Did you know that chocolate drinks were first invented over three thousand years ago? The very first chocolate drinks were invented by the Olmecs of north western Central America. Unlike the hot chocolate drinks that we know today, these chocolate drinks were served cool! To create these drinks, the Olmecs would mix crushed roasted cacao with water and cornmeal. By 1400 A.D., these chocolate drinks became an integral part of Aztec culture in Mexico, and the Aztecs made them more flavourful by adding spices and hot peppers to offset the cacao’s bitterness. Sugar had not arrived from Europe at that time, which means the chocolate drinks consumed by the Aztecs were spicy, not sweet! The word that the Aztecs used to call chocolate was pronounced “shoh-kwah-tul”, which sounds very close to the name “chocolate” that we continue to use to this day. After the Spanish arrived in Mexico in the 1500s, these spicy, cool, chocolate drinks were brought back to Europe where sugar was added into the mix and the final concoction was served warm. It wasn’t until the 1950s that an American dairy company started to produce a powdered instant version of these hot chocolate drinks. Today, hot chocolates continue to be served warm and are often topped with marshmallows, whipped cream, and crushed peppermint candy or other sweet treats. They make for warm and comforting cups of beverages during the winter months, and are a perfect way to end a holiday turkey dinner with family and loved ones.
If you are a restaurant, caterer or a food & beverages business thinking about your holiday drinks menu, please don’t forget to plan ahead for cold storage space! Coolmate Rentals can provide you or your business with rental mobile coolers, freezers, and combo cooler and freezers units that range from 6’ to 16’ in size. Our refrigeration rental business can service businesses from across the GTA and beyond. All of our units are professional looking and well-cleaned inside and out. You can rent our units on a temporary or long-term basis, depending on your needs. Contact us today to learn more about our cooler freezer units, and book a trailer for the upcoming holiday season.