How to Make the Best Hot Chocolate Ever with 100% Chocolate

During our chocolate tours, we serve a cup of hot chocolate that is widely praised and much appreciated by all of our tour guests. One of the most common questions we get after they’ve had a taste is: How did you make it taste so good?

The answer is surprisingly simple, yet it makes all the difference. Start by putting the desired amount of 100% chocolate, also known as cacao mass or baking chocolate, in a pot. The exact amount depends on how rich and intense you like your hot chocolate, so feel free to experiment. Next, add the milk of your choice—whether it’s cow's milk, coconut milk, almond milk, or any other variety. Finally, sweeten it to taste with some sugar. We suggest adjusting the sugar gradually to find the perfect balance.

As the ingredients come together, stir them with a whisk while heating gently on the stove. The whisking is key—it not only ensures the chocolate melts evenly into the milk but also creates a beautifully smooth and creamy texture.

We typically heat the hot chocolate just until it reaches the boiling point. Allowing it to simmer ever so slightly and whisking constantly seems to result in an unparalleled creaminess that elevates the entire experience.

Speaking of creamy... did you know that cacao mass naturally contains 50% cacao butter? This buttery richness adds an indulgent, velvety quality to the drink, making it feel almost like a dessert in a cup. You won’t find this level of richness in most store-bought hot chocolates!

Now it’s your turn to create this magical drink in your own kitchen. With just a few ingredients and a bit of whisking, you’ll have a cup of hot chocolate that’s as comforting as it is luxurious.

-

We hope you enjoy making—and drinking—this simple yet decadent treat. And don’t forget to keep an eye on our blog for delicious recipes featuring cacao mass and chocolate.

Planting by the moon - what is the perfect time to plant?

I’ve always loved learning & since moving to Bocas 10 years I’ve been able to learn so many new things. One of the most fascinating things I learnt must be planting by the moon. Papito & his dad cut wood by the moon, plant by the moon & even harvest by the moon (e.g. cacao harvested in full moon is said to have a higher moisture content, and will thus take longer to sundry). I found this very intriguing and after some more research online I now faithfully plant by the moon.

The best period to plant above ground crops is an eleven day  period starting two days after the new moon. What you should plant in this period? Tomatoes, peppers, pumpkin, fruit trees, flowers,…

If you want to practice lunar planting yourself next time, check when the new moon is & add two days, this is the best period for planting anything except for root crops & edible sprouts. If the new moon was on November 15th for example, the eleven-day planting period would start on November 17th. Then next month the new moon falls on December 14th, so you can start planting on December 16th. 

Ever since I started using this system, I’ve had a lot of success germinating seeds & the plants in our nursery look great so if you like gardening I recommend you to try this method to see if you notice any differences. If you do, I’d love to hear about it! 

Now I know some people may think this is BS, and online you find slightly or even completely different moon calendars that other people swear by.