"I am from Mexico, yes, and there is such a thing as 'Mexican chocolate' but there is no one true blend of spices used for it," Hernando said calmly. "Mostly when people say this they mean the Mayan habit of mixing chocolate with chili but it can be anything. Chocolate with chili, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, citrus peel, vanilla.. There are many blends. The Mayans did not drink chocolate the way we do today. Theirs was a very bitter and spicy brew."

Unlike the one he was making. He added a mix of cream and milk and began whisking the whole and adding spoonfuls of chocolate shavings while he did. When they had begun to blend in, he added a few drops of vanilla and a generous portion of sugar. Continued to mix.