Summary of "Chocolate Wine from 1723"

Chocolate Wine: Historical Recipe and Cultural Background

The video explores the historical recipe and cultural background of chocolate wine, a unique beverage that combines wine and chocolate. This drink was popular in the 18th century and is recreated using a 1723 recipe from John Knott’s cookbook.

The 1723 Recipe

The recipe calls for:

Port or cherry wine
Unsweetened chocolate
Sugar
Flour

These ingredients are mixed and gently boiled to create a thick, rich drink. The host chooses port wine due to personal preference and shares an interesting history behind port wine’s British-named brands. British merchants established warehouses in Portugal to preserve and trade fortified wine, which led to the development of these iconic brands.

Historical Context of Chocolate in England

The video delves into the significance of chocolate in England, focusing on Hampton Court Palace, where a dedicated chocolate kitchen was discovered in 2013. This kitchen was established during the late 17th-century renovations by Sir Christopher Wren, highlighting chocolate’s status as a luxury item imported from the Americas and Asia, accessible mainly to the elite.

Notable historical figures connected to chocolate include:

King William III
King George I, who employed a personal chocolier, Thomas Toier. Toier served the king daily, and his wife, Grace Toier, successfully marketed their chocolate house as a royal-themed social venue in London.

The chocolate house became popular among both the elite and commoners, hosting events that mirrored royal court festivities.

Preparing the Chocolate Wine

The host demonstrates the preparation process, describing the final product as:

Thick and intensely chocolatey
Balanced by the sweetness and alcohol of the port wine

He suggests that adding spices such as cinnamon or cardamom could enhance the complexity of the drink, reflecting historical practices of flavoring chocolate.

Collaboration and Closing

The video closes by mentioning a collaboration with Christian Dere, a Great British Bakeoff finalist, who created a tart inspired by the chocolate wine recipe.