Cowboys & Chocolate

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cpA perfect combo for this western author – as well as the heroine in my next ‘Bride’ book ~ Lily loves her cowboy and her hot chocolate.silver While researching beverage servers of the 1800’s, I discovered the wonderful world of antique chocolate pots–like a coffee pot, only specifically designed for serving hot chocolate. They just don’t serve hot chocolate the way they used to. I was intrigued to find out that chocolate was so revered by the Aztecs that they used chocolate as both food and currency. Near the end of the XVIII century, Spanish explorers took chocolate back to Spain where it became the Kings’ Official Drink in New Spain and Europe. Europeans began preparing chocolate with cream and sugar, creating what we know today as Hot potChocolate.

The first chocolate pots, like that of my heroine (shown above – 1852), were made of sterling silver, and sometimes copper. Similar to coffee pots, chocolate pots were designed with shorter spouts and did not have filters, though some had holes through the center of the lids for stir sticks. Ceramic chocolate pots gained popularity in the 1890’s and 1900’s, the leading manufacturer being Limoges, in France. cpotI’m suddenly in the mood for a chocolate party 🙂

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29 thoughts on “Cowboys & Chocolate”

  1. Mmmmm, cowboys and chocolate….two of my favorite things. 🙂 Very interesting post, Stacey. And I’ll join your chocolate party!

  2. Those pots are so beautiful.
    This fits with yesterday’s post about a simpler Christmas were people…like Laura Ingals Wilder could be thrilled with such modest Christmas gifts. This looks like they made hot chocolate a real event. I probably didn’t taste any better than today’s packets you rip open and pour into a cup with boiling water, but we don’t savor things anymore, I don’t think.
    Well, maybe Cheesecake Factory cheesecake…but nothing else.

  6. LOL Mary!! Yeah…hard not to savor while in the Cheesecake Factory 😉 Oh so true. Cooking was such a big production in itself–sitting down to savor was a must…they needed a break before dishes 🙂

  7. Cool, Minna! I’ve never seen one. I didn’t know about chocolate pots until last year 😉 I’ve been told Europe still savors their hot chocolate and have actual chocolate houses, like we have coffee houses.

  9. Gorgeous pots! I wonder about the painting and embellishments on them. They are so beautiful and I would imagine handpainted or etched.

    Yeah, cowboys and hot chocolate sounds delicious! HEHE!

  13. My mom has her great grandmother’s hand-painted porcelain chocolate pot. It’s the most beautiful family heirloom she owns. I’m not a collector as a rule, but I do love dishes and I would be a happy camper collecting chocolate pots.

  14. How neat, to have such a family heirloom, Geralyn. I am not a nic-nak person AT ALL, if it’s gotta be dusted, I generally don’t want it in my house because it will usually just collect dust 🙂 (I have tunnel vision: kids, computer, fridge) But I can’t resist chocolate pots. I’m now a chocolate and chocolate pot addict *g*

  15. I would have been an extremely unhappy person if I lived back then considering I don’t like chocolate! But the chocolate pots are beautiful.

  16. Stacey, chocolate in any form is my shameless addiction! I can’t go a day without some and some days a lot. Cold winter days — and nights — are wonderful times to really savor the luscious taste of hot chocolate.

    I didn’t know they had special pots to serve it in. Thanks for sharing that and providing the link. Yes, I think chocolate and sexy cowboys go hand in hand. I’m addicted to both. 🙂

  21. Chocolate (a food group unto itself) and a good book makes everything right in the world. And just where are we meeting for this party?

  22. I posted this at Cheryl StJohn’s blog 9/20-she is a chocolate afficiando par excellance! From “The Book of Books” 2007, pg 67 is 12 Food Books on the Histories of Culinary Staples (beer, sugar, tea, bread, olives, honey, salt, spice, wine, sweets/candy, CHOCOLATE, & coffee.) #11 alphabetically by title (CERTAINLY NOT in order of importance!) is The True History of Chocolate by Sophie D & Michael D Coe, 1996: “Fascinating and surprising history: Did you know the AZTECS drank it as a bitter tonic, mixed with hot chilies rather than sugar?”

    I too could be paid, even bribed with ANY form of chocolate-going to enjoy Choc. hazelnut spread (like choc. frosting) on cinnamon graham crackers & cold milk. Connie, I’ll be on the deck with my book, under blue skies with wispy clouds, join me?
    A sexy cowboy thrown in wouldn’t hurt my feelings.

    Have seen a few of these choc pots (hubby is English.) I do NOT drink coffee unless I am REALLY cold & no choc avail. I wish coffee tasted HALF as good as it smells! LOL

  23. Lou-I agree, I love the smell of coffee but can’t stand the taste. But chocolate…well that’s a completely different story. I have a very well know addiction to any kind of chocolate. I always have a bag of choc. chips in the refrigerator and eat them by the handful. Dark chocolate is my preference but in a pinch…

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