In the cold autumn it is cloudy not only outside, but also in the shower. At this melancholy time of the year, the soul longs for something warm, fragrant and joyful. An excellent antidepressant is cocoa - the drink of the gods. So it was not called by chance, because the wonderful taste and benefits of this remedy were known back in the era of the ancient civilizations of the Aztecs, Incas, Mayans. Indeed, cocoa has amazing properties. Consisting of cocoa powder, milk and sugar, this drink is uplifting, energizing and brings undeniable benefits to the body. Together with the online publication estet-portal.com, you will plunge into the history of this drink, learn about its features, benefits, as well as the secrets of preparation.
From ancient civilizations to modern times
About 3 thousand years ago, when the Inca, Maya and Aztec tribes lived on the territory of modern Latin America, only shamans and men were allowed to drink cocoa. Then this remedy was called chocolatl, which, translated from the Aztec language, meant "foamy water." It was prepared exclusively from ripe grated cocoa beans, cold water, hot peppers and other spices. The consistency of such a drink resembled a thick sauce.
Already from the 16th century. cocoa began to conquer the whole world. It all started in 1527, when the Spanish conquistador Cortes, while exploring Mexican lands, visited a tribe of ancient Indians who mistook him for a deity and treated him to a chocolatl. Soon the recipe for this drink was brought to Spain, from where it spread throughout the world.
Initially, the Spaniards did not like the taste of the cocoa drink, so instead of pepper, they began to add honey, and the drink itself was warmed up before drinking. In Italy, this drink has gained saturation. In England, its taste was made soft and light, diluting the product with milk.
Modern cocoa is sold on store shelves not ready-made. Usually it comes in the form of powder and balls, from which you can already make a drink by filling the contents of the bag with milk or water. Such products have a rather interesting manufacturing technology. To begin with, beans are harvested, growing on an evergreen chocolate tree, which is considered to be the birthplace of South America. Next, the grains are dried, crushed and, thus, a fragrant powder is obtained. Not all cocoa is made from powder. There is a type of drink in which melted chocolate bars and milk are added. And you can drink any drink both warm and chilled.
What is the benefit of cocoa drink
"Brown Gold" – this is another name for cocoa, which is not given by chance. After all drink is extremely useful. They even give it to kids in kindergarten. What is the use of such a drink? It:
- warms;
- improves mood;
- relieves depression;
- energizing;
- activates the brain and improves thought processes.
The whole secret lies in the amazing chemical composition of the drink, which includes vitamins A, B, E, C, PP, minerals (potassium, calcium, iron, sodium, phosphorus, calcium), as well as various chemical compounds.
Each component of the cocoa drink has a positive effect on the functioning of the whole organism:
- calcium helps to strengthen teeth and bones;
- iron improves the functioning of the circulatory system;
- bioflavonoids prevent cancerous tumors from appearing and growing;
- epicatechin normalizes blood pressure;
- magnesium perfectly relaxes muscles, relieves nervous tension, relieves stress;
- phenylethylamine allows the body to recover faster after heavy loads;
- anandamide promotes the production of endorphins – a natural antidepressant that improves mood.
Besides, by drinking this drink every day, you thereby strengthen your cardiovascular system and improve brain function. Therefore, you can not be afraid of strokes, as well as heart attacks. And cocoa is an excellent tool for increasing potency. According to many historical sources, it is known that Casanova himself, known for his love affairs, once preferred to drink it.
Cocoa drink has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin. Due to procyanidin, which is responsible for the elasticity and healthy appearance of the skin, small wounds heal and a rejuvenating effect occurs. And thanks to melanin – natural pigment cover is perfectly protected from ultraviolet rays. That is why it is very good to make face masks from such a drink. With this tool, the skin will become elastic, smooth, and there will be no trace of fine wrinkles. Cocoa is also good for hair. A mask of a mixture of strong drink and coffee, applied to the curls for 20 minutes, will not only give the hair a healthy shine, but also give it a light chestnut tint
As such, there are no contraindications to the use of the drink. But it's still not worth getting carried away with them. Firstly, due to the tannins that make up the composition, constipation can occur. And secondly, cocoa is a strong stimulant that can lead to insomnia and sleep disturbance, especially if you drink it at night.
How to make this wonderful drink
In order to get the full benefit of the drink, you need to prepare it correctly. But first you need to choose a quality product. How to recognize where the fake is, and where is the good powder? Pay attention to the composition. If it contains at least 15% fat, then you have a natural and healthy product.
Natural cocoa drink has a light brown or brown color, has no impurities and does not leave lumps. The package must indicate the country where the chocolate tree grows.
There are a lot of cocoa recipes. But all of them are based on two ways to create a flavored drink:
- The powder is poured into warm milk or water;
- The powder is separately mixed with sugar and poured with hot milk or water.
Preparing cocoa according to the classic recipe is very simple. First you need to take a bowl, pour 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder into it, then – 2 teaspoons of sugar and mix everything gently. After that, pour some milk into the container, stir until the mass becomes homogeneous, and add the remaining milk. Next, cook cocoa over low heat, while not forgetting to stir it. When the sugar is completely dissolved, the drink can already be drunk. Anything can be added to cocoa. This remedy is most successfully combined with ginger, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate. It can be served with cookies, sponge cake, cake and other sweets. Cocoa drink with an amazing taste and incredible aroma that will strengthen your health, fill you with energy, and also brighten up the sad autumn days.
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