Ingredients: cinnamon, vanilla extract or bean, dried chili, unsweetened chocolate, milk, sugar (optional)

In the sixteenth century, Mayans introduced chocolate to the Europeans as a drink with native spices—vanilla, cinnamon, and chili. The Spaniards quickly took advantage of the new flavorings they'd discovered, and added milk and sugar. To emulate their drink, simmer all the ingredients (except the chocolate) together for a few minutes, remove the cinnamon stick and chili, and whisk in the chocolate. Experiment with different chilies, varied amounts of sugar and milk, or a little rose water to add another unique flavor.

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