When most people think of Jamaica and Jamaicans, they think of jerk, reggae, and track and field, but not chocolate milk. Yes, you guessed correctly! Chocolate milk originated on your little big rock, Jamaica.
More On Chocolate Milk
One also sweetens the chocolate-flavoured milk. You prepare it by combining cocoa syrup (or powder) with milk. You can purchase it pre-mixed with milk or make it at home by combining milk, cocoa powder, a sweetener, melted cocoa, cocoa syrup, or a powdered cocoa mix. Starch, salt, carrageenan, vanilla, or artificial flavouring also get added. Adding minerals such as zinc oxide or iron increases its nutritional value. Sounds good, right? But where did it come from? Who was the first to combine chocolate and milk to make this beautiful product?
Discovery
According to the Natural History Museum in the United Kingdom, Sir Hans Sloane, an Irish botanist, is credited with this discovery. Sloane visited Jamaica in the early 1700s and received cocoa to drink from the locals. The National History Museum’s website stated, “He found it ‘nauseous’, but mixing it with milk made it more palatable.” Rumour has it that Sloane carried the milk and cocoa concoction with him to England and sold it as medication for many years.
However, like with other things, the Europeans who received credit for creating something did not invent it. The belief that Sir Hans Sloane created the beverage first comes with scepticism. According to historian Jame Delbougo, Jamaicans were making “a hot beverage produced from shavings of newly harvested cacao, cooked with milk and cinnamon.”
Now It’s Your Turn
All things considered, chocolate milk is a top-tier beverage and is nicer now that we know its origins. Do you like it? Which theory do you believe? Let us know in the comments without delay. “Come share, celebrate, boast and debate our Jamaican culture with us.”