Chocolate milk is one of the best-loved beverages in the United States, but where did it come from? Who are the brilliant folks who first thought to combine milk and chocolate? The origin of chocolate milk is a fascinating tale, though there’s a bit of controversy surrounding who deserves the credit for this delightful drink. And so, since today is National Milk Chocolate Day, it is a perfect time to settle this debate once and for all.
The “Official” Story According to the British
According to the British, it was an Irish botanist named Sir Hans Sloane who first concocted the drink during his time in Jamaica in the early 1700s. As the story goes, Sir Hans was offered a traditional local beverage—cocoa shavings mixed with water. However, he found it to be “nauseous” due to its bitterness and decided to add milk to make it more palatable.
Upon his return to England, Sloane brought this milk and cocoa mixture with him. For years, the drink was sold as a medicine, touted for its supposed health benefits. And thus, the legend of Sir Hans Sloane, the “inventor” of chocolate milk, was born.
We Did It First!
As the saying goes, “history is written by the victors.” And as Jamaicans, we know that when it comes to our history, the official versions are often lacking nuance or entirely revised to favour the non-Jamaican storyteller. Unsurprisingly, the story of chocolate milk is no different.
Recent research suggests it was Jamaicans who first brewed the drink. According to historian James Delbougo, Jamaicans were making a hot cocoa beverage as early as 1494—long before Sir Hans arrived on the scene. This local concoction combined cocoa, water, milk, and cinnamon, and was popular among the natives. The same drink was later introduced to Spanish Conquistador Hernán Cortés, who, like Sloane, found the bitter taste too much and added spices and sugar to improve the taste.
To this day, Jamaicans still drink this hot beverage we now call chocolate tea or cocoa tea, made the traditional way with cocoa pods rolled into chocolate balls, sugar, milk, and cinnamon and served hot. Chocolate tea remains a popular drink on the island.
Myth Busted
An article in the Smithsonian Magazine argues, “Chocolate itself was known to humans from 350 BCE, so it is difficult to think that no one before Sloane had combined it with milk.” So why does the idea that Sloane invented chocolate milk still persist?
“It’s a compelling tale to have the first inventor of something be a famous and important person who got it right the first time,” suggests the Sloane Letters Project. “But unfortunately, the attribution of milk chocolate to Sloane is no more than just another tasty myth.”
Make Your Own Jamaican Chocolate Milk
Now that we’ve definitively dispelled the rumor, here’s a delicious milk chocolate recipe from Mona Made It that uses similar ingredients as the original drink from Jamaica:
Ingredients
- 1 Jamaican chocolate ball (preferably made with cocoa, spices, and sugar)
- 1 cup water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1-2 tbsp sugar (optional, depending on your desired sweetness)
- A pinch of salt
- 2 cups whole milk
- Grated nutmeg for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Boil the Water: In a medium saucepan, bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Add the cinnamon stick and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to infuse the flavour.
- Dissolve the Chocolate: Grate the Jamaican chocolate ball into small pieces. Slowly add the grated chocolate to the boiling water, stirring constantly until it’s fully dissolved.
- Add Sugar and Salt: Stir in the sugar (if using) and a pinch of salt to enhance the flavour. Continue to stir until everything is well combined.
- Simmer and Reduce: Allow the chocolate mixture to simmer uncovered over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it reduces by half (about 10-15 minutes).
- Strain and Cool: Strain the chocolate mixture to remove the cinnamon stick and any undissolved solids, then set it aside to cool completely.
- Prepare the Drink: Fill a glass with ice and pour in 2 cups of cold milk.
- Add Chocolate Syrup: Once the chocolate mixture has cooled, add a few tablespoons of the syrup to the milk. Stir well to combine.
- Serve: Garnish with a bit of grated nutmeg, if desired. Serve and enjoy your refreshing, spiced Jamaican chocolate milk!
So, there you have it—the real story behind the origins of chocolate milk and a recipe to try at home. Enjoy a taste of history with each sip!
