National Chocolate Milk Day celebration is underway this day... September 27th.
Would you believe us if we told you that chocolate milk is a magical and sacred drink?
The earliest known use of chocolate was by the Olmec around 1900 B.C., and they enjoyed it as a drink.
It was drunk from special round jars known as ‘tecomates,’ which were symbols of status.
The Mayans subsequently worshipped a god of cocoa. According to ancient Mayan written records, chocolate drinks were served at gatherings like weddings and to conclude other important events. They also prepared cacao drinks as offerings to their gods.
Chocolate drinks continued to be medicinal and magical throughout history. In 1687, Irish botanist Hans Sloane was appointed as a physician to the Duke of Albemarle in Jamaica.
While in Jamaica, Sloane was introduced to Jamaican chocolate water.
He found the drinks to be too bitter and added milk for taste.
He realized that chocolate milk tasted good and was also very healthy due to the calcium and protein.
Because of his position, Sloane was allowed to bring the drink mixture back to Europe. He began preaching of the medicinal benefits and selling it to apothecaries.
In 1828, a company in Amsterdam, Van Houten, invented a method for pressing cocoa.
This produced a light, fluffy chocolate powder that could be easily dissolved in water or milk. This made chocolate milk even more popular because it was so easy to make.
U.S. brands caught on in the early 1900s with introductions such as Ovaltine in 1904.
Nesquik® 's chocolate milk powder was first introduced in the US in 1948 under the name Nestlé Quik.
I remember as a child of the 1960's I would have loved to have had chocolate milk in our school lunch room like kids of today.
I actually hated ordinary white milk and never wanted it until my mother let me try chocolate milk. I was sold.
However, in order to accomplish that my mother had to sneek in my lunch box a small vile of Nestlé Quik chocolate power since my box thermos was shattered on the first day of school, through no fault of my own.
However, all was not smooth sailing at my elementary school. I was cautioned by a lunch room teacher that my chocolate powered mix was not allowed in my carton of milk. I'm guessing they thought I might make a mess.
I went home that day dejected but my mother showed me compassion and reminded me I had her permission to be a rebel.
I continue using my mix to obtain that wonderful chocolate milk... (With No Mess) I was Happy & Mom was Happy to get me to finally drink milk!
Chocolate milk’s popularity definitely continued to increase, and now it’s one of the most popular beverages in the world.
Join Me And... Pour Yourself A Glass Of Chocolate Milk in Honor of National Chocolate Milk Day! 🥳
Nana
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