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A little about Playa Zipolite, The Beach of the Dead . . .

Playa Zipolite, Oaxaca, Southern Mexico, on the Pacific Ocean. A little bit about my favorite little get-away on this small world of ours.

Zipolite, a sweaty 30-minute walk west from Puerto Angel, brings you to Playa Zipolite and another world. The feeling here is 1970's - Led Zep, Marley, and scruffy gringos.

A long, long time ago, Zipolite beach was usually visited by the Zapotecans...who made it a magical place. They came to visit Zipolite to meditate, or just to rest.

Recently, this beach has begun to receive day-trippers from Puerto Angel and Puerto Escondido, giving it a more TOURISTY feel than before.

Most people come here for the novelty of the nude beach, yoga, turtles, seafood, surf, meditation, vegetarians, discos, party, to get burnt by the sun, or to see how long they can stretch their skinny budget.

I post WWW Oaxaca, Mexico, Zipolite and areas nearby information. Also general budget, backpacker, surfer, off the beaten path, Mexico and beyond, information.

REMEMBER: Everyone is welcome at Zipolite.

ivan

Thursday, January 19, 2017

chocolate Oaxaca Planeta.com Chocolate is not just a dessert in Oaxaca. Here is our updated insider's guide for drinking, eating and buying cacao products.


chocolate Oaxaca
Chocolate is not just a dessert in Oaxaca. Here is our updated insider's guide for drinking, eating and buying cacao products.


Chocolate Oaxaca

 By Ron Mader   Posted in Food Mexico
 Posted on January 17, 2017
Chocolate is not just a dessert in Oaxaca. Here is our updated insider’s guide for drinking, eating and buying cacao products.



HISTORY

Chocolate comes from the beans of the cacao tree that grows in tropical climates.
The word cacao has been traced to the Olmec. The Maya continued the use and introduced this to the Aztecs who called it xocolatl, meaning ‘bitter water.’
The Spaniards sent chocolate to Europe. It took a while for the treat to become popular. By the late 18th century chocolate shops were fashionable and chocolate has ever since been a world-wide favorite.

NATURAL WORLD

Cacao refers to the tree and its products before processing. Cocoa describes the product after processing. Chocolate refers to any manufactured cacao product.
Oaxaca doesn’t grow much cacao. Most of the beans come from Chiapas and Tabasco. That said, Oaxaca is one of the premier places in the world where travelers can purchase chocolate to go with a choice of spices.

TOUR TIPS

Chocoholics take notice! There are numerous stores and market stalls to taste the best of Oaxaca.
Mina Street is a good starting point. Note the curious scent of dust, diesel and chocolate. Check out the barrels of cocoa beans — currency before the Spanish arrived — in the doorways of the stores.
Hot chocolate is made with your choice of water or milk.
Order chocolate with a selection of spices. Great place to taste the concoction? Try the chocolate bar (photo) at the Mayordomo at the corner of Mina and 20 de Noviembre.
If you are looking for hot chocolate at the 20 de Noviembre Market, friends recommend the Comedor María Cristina (#19-20).
If you’re looking for a clean, simple place to stay, there’s Chocolate Posada on Mina #212.

BUYING CHOCOLATE

My favorite chocolate? Chocoluchy!
Mayordomo, Soledad and Guelaguetza are the three most famous brands (marcas), available at supermarkets and at their own stores where you can ask for almonds, cinnamon or vanilla to be added to the mix for a special package you can take home.
You can also buy handmade chocolate (chocolate casero) at various Oaxaca City markets.
One store that specializes in chocolate manufacturing goodies is Fantasia en Chocolate on Xicoténactl Street. Organic chocolates are sold at several natural food stores, including Xiguela, Hidalgo #104-C.

DRINKING CHOCOLATE

The most popular way to drink chocolate is via a hot beverage. Hot chocolate is a wonder in Oaxaca and is made with either water or milk. This is your best bet for the pure chocolate flavor. Brad made with egg yolk is served on the side and it’s ok to dunk the bread if you wish. A variation of the hot chocolate is champurrado a hearty drink made with cocoa and corn. This is thicker than chocolate de agua or chocolate de leche.

A FEW WORDS ABOUT TEJATE

Oaxaca’s traditional energy drink is tejate, ‘the drink of the gods.’ (photo)
This beverage was originally served to the ruling elite of Zapotec society.
Like most Oaxacan delicacies, it is complex in its composition. The libation is made from corn, roasted cacao beans, mamey seed and rosita flowers (flor cacahuaxochitl).
The ingredients are blended in a thick mass, which is gradually thinned with water. Tradition calls for this process to be done by hand and the tejateras’ arm does the mixing. Tejate is served as markets in hand-painted, gourd bowls called jicaras.
Tejate can also be served as a sherbet, as cookies and as nicuatole.
FESTIVAL — The annual Tejate Fair is held in the spring in the town of San Andrés Huayapam.

A FEW WORDS ABOUT MOLE

The most well-known mole in Oaxaca is the black (negro) variety, which includes a variety of spices and cacao. The other moles do not include chocolate. They are red (rojo), yellow (amarillo), deep red (coloradito), green (verde), manchamanteles, estofado, chichilo and pipián.

MOLINILLOS

Wooden beaters (molinillos) are used to make chocolate. They are for sale at many of Oaxaca’s markets.

WHAT YOU WILL NOT FIND

Chocolate items you will not find are locally-made candy bars, cocoa powder or chocolate chips.
Wiki
Also check out the Chocolate album on Flickr.
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