Chocolate

Chocolatte being this day used not onely over all the West-India's, but also in Spain, Italy, and Flanders, with approbation of many learned Doctors in Physick, among whom Antonio Colmenero of Ledesma; (who lived once in the India's) hath composed a learned and curious Treatise concerning the nature and quality of this drink; I thought fit to insert here also somewhat of it concerning my own experience for the space of twelve yeers. This name Chocolatte is an Indian name, and is compounded from Atte, as some say or as others, Atle, which in the Mexican language signifieth water, & from the sound which the water (wherein is put the Chocolatte) makes, as Choco, Choco, Choco, when it is stirred in a cup by an instrument called a Molinet, or Molinillo, untill it bubble and rise unto a froath. And as there it is a name compounded, so in English wee may well call it a compounded or a confectioned drink wherein are found many and severall Ingredients, according to the different disposition of the body of them that use it. But the chief Ingredient (without which it cannot be made) is called Cacao, a kind of nut or kernell bigger then a great Almond, which growes upon a tree called the tree of Cacao, and ripens in a great huske, wherein sometimes are found more, sometimes lesse Cacao's, sometimes twenty, sometimes thirty, nay forty, and above.

Chocolate is used today not only all over the West Indies but also in Spain, Italy, and Flanders, with the approval of many learned doctors of medicine. Among them Antonio Colmenero of Ledesma (who once lived in the Indies) has written a learned and curious treatise on the nature and quality of this drink. So I thought fit to set down here something about it from my own experience over twelve years. This name chocolate is an Indian name. It is compounded from atte, as some say, or as others say atle, which in the Mexican language means water, and from the sound which the water (in which the chocolate is put) makes, as choco, choco, choco, when it is stirred in a cup with an instrument called a molinet, or molinillo, until it bubbles and rises into a froth. And as it is a compounded name there, so in English we may well call it a compounded or confectioned drink, in which are found many different ingredients, according to the different constitutions of the bodies of those who use it. But the chief ingredient (without which it cannot be made) is called cacao. It is a kind of nut or kernel bigger than a large almond. It grows on a tree called the cacao tree and ripens in a great husk, in which are found sometimes more and sometimes fewer cacaos: sometimes twenty, sometimes thirty, even forty and more.

There is another way yet to drinke Chocolatte, which is cold, which the Indians use at feasts, to refresh themselves, and it is made after this manner. The Chocolatte (which is made with none or very few ingredients) being dissolved in cold water with the Molinet, they take off the scumme or crassy part, which riseth in great quantity, especially when the Cacao is older and more putrefied. The scumme they lay aside in a little dish by it selfe, and then put sugar into that part from whence was taken the scum, and then powre it from on high into the scumme, and so drinke it cold. And this drinke is so cold, that it agreeth not with all mens stomacks; for by experience it hath been found, that it doth hurt, by causing pains in the stomack, especially to women.

There is yet another way to drink chocolate, which is cold. The Indians use it at feasts, to refresh themselves, and it is made in this manner. The chocolate (which is made with no ingredients, or very few) is dissolved in cold water with the molinet. Then they take off the scum or thick part, which rises in great quantity, especially when the cacao is older and more decayed. They lay the scum aside in a little dish by itself, and then put sugar into the part from which the scum was taken. Then they pour it from on high into the scum, and so drink it cold. And this drink is so cold that it does not agree with every stomach; for experience has shown that it does harm by causing pains in the stomach, especially to women.