Cool nights and hot chocolate

After suffering through a hot summer (but luckily it rained frequently, more than in 112 years), the temperature in Albuquerque took a sudden nose dive last night. Cool enough now that I broke out some hot chocolate this evening.

I grew up drinking Nestle's Quik, but as an adult discovered Mexican hot chocolate. My favorite two brands are Ibarra and Abuelita, with Ibarra getting a slight edge. And yours?

I tossed in a pinch of powdered red chile, which goes so well with chocolate (remember the movie, Chocolat?).

Larry
I do like the shaved chocolate style of hot chocolate (Charbonnel et Walker do the classic one here). It's a right pain to get melted, but it's a very "grown-up" drink. The other alternative I go for is the intensely rich ones in Italy (off to Piemonte soon hopefully to re-taste). Some interesting flavours as well if that's you thing.
regards
Ian

I don't think I've ever had the chance to try Mexican hot chocolate, nor anything else other than Nestle or Swiss Miss brands. Can you tell me a little about them?

The Mexican chocolate I'm talking about comes in bright yellow, hexagonal boxes. The chocolate tablets inside are a mixture of chocolate, sugar and cinnamon. You break off 1/4 tablet for each cup of milk and slowly heat your milk until the chocolate melts. You stir it until everything is dissolved and then enjoy it.

You shouldn't have too much trouble finding it. I found some in a grocery store in a small town in Pennsylvania while I was visiting last June. Here's what they look like:

Ibarra: http://chocoibarra.com.mx/
Abuelita: http://www.mexgrocer.com/2550.html

Larry,

I was all hyped to post about Abuelita when you wrote and you beat to the punch right away--We discovered it here in FL and my daughter loves it (it's still to hot for ME to drink HC, but she likes it at bedtime...)

Considering the number of stores that are adding Hispanic/Latino products around here, I'm surprised I haven't seen it yet. I'll definately have to look for this the next time I go to the store.

I'd look in the Nestle Quik area and/or the International/Hispanic foods. I've even seen Abuelita in Big Lots, one of those discount stores.

Probably the Hispanic/Latino section, I know it's not in the regular Nestle Quick section since we can't get through the market without a stop in that aisle thanks to my two kids.