3 Effective Benefits of Hot Chocolate for Health

Spicy chocolate is everywhere these days, ranging from chocolate bars to hot chocolate and mochas at coffee shops. All kinds of chocolate can be spicy, including white, milk, and dark. Dark chocolate is often used to make spicy chocolate. The spice comes from chili powders and other spices. Many people think that spicy chocolate has even more health benefits than plain chocolate. Spicy chocolate dates back to the ages of the Aztecs and Mayan people, who brewed a bitter beverage of chocolate and chili. 

What is Spicy Chocolate?

Spicy chocolate is chocolate combined with chili’s and other spices, making a rich, complex confection, whatever form it comes in. Chocolate is incredibly versatile and can be used in many ways, from chocolate bars to truffles, to cakes. So, anything that can be flavored with chocolate could also be made spicy. 

Chili is the primary spice of spicy chocolate, though many can be used in combination. Common chilies used for spicy chocolate are Mexican ancho, chipotle, cayenne pepper, Aleppo, and guajillo. These chilies are most often paired with warm, sweet cinnamon and vanilla. Paprika might also be used, along with cardamom and ginger. 

Why is Spicy Chocolate popular?

While everyone has their particular palate and some people might not like chocolate and chili together, people like spicy chocolate because it tastes good. Remember that scene in Ratatouille where Remy’s brother tries cheese and strawberry for the first time? Chocolate and chili come together in a taste symphony that combines the intoxication of chocolate with the spicy exhilaration of heat. Spicy chocolate explodes on the palate and, because of how potently healthful these foods are, they then go on to help the body feel good. 

What is the Origin of Spicy Chocolate?

Spicy chocolate began in Mexico with the Mayans, who were drinking the original hot chocolate, which was made of cocoa, water, cornmeal, and chili peppers—just to name a few of the ingredients. The conquering Spaniards brought cocoa back to Spain in the 1500s, and a sweetened version of the drink became popular in Spain. The Spaniards kept chocolate a secret from the rest of Europe for about 100 years, and it didn’t come to London until the 1700s. A culture of chocolate houses, similar to today’s coffee houses, sprung up around the city. In the late 1700s, the practice of serving chocolate in milk came to London from Jamaica and became the standard.

Is Spicy Chocolate Good for Your Health?

1. Cocoa is rich in the plant chemicals polyphenols, which are antioxidants linked to many health benefits. Polyphenols help reduce inflammation, support circulation, lower blood pressure, and improve cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels. 
   
2. Chili peppers are rich in antioxidants called carotenoids. Capsaicin is the main carotenoid of chili peppers and is responsible for its characteristic heat. Capsaicin is good for heart health because of its anti-inflammatory qualities. Because they increase metabolism, chilies are supportive of weight loss. When used topically, capsaicin is a powerful pain reliever.
   
3. Cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants, making this sweet, popular spice very good for your health. Like chilies, cinnamon is abundant in polyphenols. A study comparing cinnamon against well-known superfoods like garlic and oregano found that cinnamon has the most antioxidant activity. Studies have also found cinnamon to be anti-inflammatory and support healthy tissues. Along these lines, cinnamon may reduce the risk of heart disease, support blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics, reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol and reduce blood pressure. 

You can reap all the health benefits of spicy chocolate and get an energy boost at the same time with Seattle Gummy’s Red Hot Chili Pepper Mocca Shot. This spicy caffeine gummy is flavored with chili peppers and Dutch cocoa, both of which contain health-giving antioxidants. Mocca Shots deliver steady energy, without any jittery side-effects, so you can get things done. One Red Hot Chili Pepper Mocca Shot has as much caffeine as two cups of coffee! Don’t worry—if 200 mg of caffeine is a little too much for you, each gummy comes in a resealable pouch, so you can nibble on one throughout the day, or divide it up however you need. Mocca shots are made with a patented, non-melting technology which means you can keep them in your car, bag, or pocket and they’ll always be ready for you.