The History Of Hot Chocolate

Set your Swiss Miss powder aside. Hot chocolate has a long, complex history. CBS Sunday Morning and reporter Serena Altschul explored its roots, tracing it back to the Aztecs who drank it cold, flavored with wine and chile peppers.

In the early 1500s, chocolate was brought to Europe by the explorer Cortez. After being introduced in Spain, the drink was served hot, sweetened and without the chile pepper.

Altschul talked to renowned chocolatier Jacques Torres and chef Rick Bayless, who shared his bean-to-cup chocolate, a Mexican version of the warm drink. Feel like something hot? The Daily Meal lists seven tips for making a perfect cup, which starts with high-quality chocolate for the best results. Or add a touch of Mezcal and drink it like King Montezuma.

The Daily Byte is a regular column dedicated to covering interesting food news and trends across the country. Click here for previous columns.