Good morning, welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: September 27th, 2021. Its National Chocolate Milk Day. A Holiday both Charlie and I want to participate in and if David was home he would join us as well. In the meantime would you like a glass of Chocolate Milk with Charlie and I?
National Chocolate Milk Day is celebrated on September 27, and our childhood senses are tingling. While this beverage can be spotted in any lunchroom in the United States, it actually has Jamaican origins. That’s right — Jamaica gave us ginger beer AND chocolate milk. This chocolatey goodness can be traced back to the 1400s, and its popularity continues to increase. In fact, the global chocolate milk market is forecasted to grow at a rate of 3.6% between 2019 and 2024.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL CHOCOLATE MILK DAY
Would you believe 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 Chocolate as a drink. Chocolate 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 and 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 when Chocolate Milk’s popularity continued to increase, and now Chocolate Milk one of the most popular beverages in the World.
Five facts about Milk
- Chocolate Milk is a sweetened, cold, Cocoa-flavored milk drink created when Chocolate Syrup (or Chocolate Powder) is mixed with Milk (from Cows, Goats, Soy, Rice, etc).
- Chocolate Milk can be purchased pre-mixed or made at home with either Cocoa Powder and a Sweetener (such as Sugar or a Sugar substitute), or with melted Chocolate, Chocolate Syrup, or Chocolate Milk mix.
- Other ingredients, such as Starch, Salt, Carrageenan, Vanilla, or artificial flavoring may be added.
- Chocolate Milk should be refrigerated like plain Milk.
- A suspension is required to blend in the two flavors (Milk and Chocolate, hence the name of the mixed drink).
NATIONAL CHOCOLATE MILK DAY ACTIVITIES
- You can make adult Chocolate Milk if you’re at least 21 years old, take Chocolate Milk to a new level. Add a splash of Kahlua or Baileys and voila! The perfect cocktail awaits.
- Take a milk mustache selfie. Now, I have a question for you. Do you remember the Got Milk campaign? Grab friends and relive your childhood nostalgia by taking selfies with Milk mustaches.
- Paint a ceramic mug to enjoy your favorite beverage in?.
5 FACTS ABOUT CHOCOLATE Milk
- Did you know Chocolate Milk was used as a currency? Early Mesoamericans considered Cacao Beans to be so valuable that they used them as currency.
- Chocolate Milk requires patience because Farmers must wait 4 to 5 years for a Cacao Tree to produce its first Beans.
- The Swiss are obsessed with Chocolate Milk which Switzerland created Chocolate so, naturally, they lead the world in Chocolate consumption with 22.36 lbs per person.
- The English revolutionized Chocolate in 1847, the England-based Fry’s company made the very first Chocolate Bar.
- Chocolate is a kind of a Vegetable because the Cacao Bean grows on the Cacao Tree (Theobroma Cacao), an Evergreen from the family Malvaceae (other members of the family include Okra and Cotton).
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL CHOCOLATE MILK DAY
- Chocolate milk is nostalgic no, matter our age, Chocolate Milk is a reminder of our childhood. From the vintage black and white Nestlé commercials to Elementary school lunches. Foe me Chocolate Milk was the beverage of my youth.
- Chocolate milk is Nutritious and provides Nutrients like Calcium, Protein, and Vitamin D, which can benefit our health. Chocolate milk also helps Muscles recover quickly after a tough workout and assists in replenishing fluids and critical Nutrients that were lost in sweat.
- Chocolate milk is delicious which we all know so did you really need a reason to drink Chocolate Milk? If you did, this Holiday provides you with the perfect excuse to grab a glass of Chocolate Milk.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
