xocolatl

Mexican hot chocolate is a beverage that is ubiquitous in Mexico and is popular throughout Central America all the way to Colombia. The Aztecs and Mayans enjoyed hot chocolate for thousands of years before it was discovered by the Old World. The origin of the word chocolate comes from xocolatl (bitter water), from the ancient Aztec language, Náhuatl. Another important word in this region is xocola’j which means “to drink chocolate together”. Drinking chocolate has a history of over 4,000 years, while chocolate bars, or eating chocolate, has only about 200 years!