The Heart-Healthy Spice That Makes Hot Cocoa 10x More Delicious

When you think of hot cocoa (maybe more frequently referred to as hot chocolate in your household), you may be most likely to think of the packaged store brands of your childhood, like Swiss Miss — or maybe an inexpensive Dollar Tree dupe. And it may even come as a surprise that there's a difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate. Technically, hot cocoa uses cocoa powder plus sugar; hot chocolate uses pre-made melted chocolate bars or chocolate pieces. Typically, the packaged versions are actually hot cocoa because the powder dissolves more easily. However, this little tip can work in either version, packaged or from scratch. Try adding some cayenne pepper to your next warm chocolatey drink for a bit of a punch and some potential health benefits.

All you need is a pinch of cayenne powder for a kick of flavor. Hot cocoa is loved for its soothing and warming properties on a cold day or night, and a little cayenne will give you an extra dimension of warmth. Also,  according to a 2017 study for PLOS One and a 2024 study for Nutrients, thanks to the capsaicin in cayenne peppers (the stuff that makes them spicy), cayenne powder may help reduce inflammation (per a 2015 study for Open Heart) and improve blood flow to the heart, all of which are good news for our cardiovascular systems. It's a pretty simple trick to up your cocoa game and, quite literally, warm your heart.

It might sound overpowering to just toss, willy-nilly, a very spicy component into a hot drink (and a "pinch" may be quite different from hand to hand). However, if you start out sparingly and add as you go, you can ensure you'll get a nice warming feeling and flavor without burning your palate. The simplest application is to add a dash or two to a mixed cup of packaged hot cocoa. If you want to make a hot cocoa from scratch, you really just need cocoa powder, sugar, and milk, then you can tweak it to your tastes from there.

Spicy chiles, fresh cacao, and cornmeal have been mixed together to make a hot drink in Mesoamerica for centuries, probably beginning with the Maya. These days, you can make what has become known as Mexican hot chocolate – or buy it in packaged powders or bars at the store, some spicier than others. Some, like Green Jay Gourmet Spicy Mexican Hot Cocoa Mix, come with ancho chile powder right in the package, while some of the more recognizable brands, like Nestle-owned Abuelita Authentic Mexican Hot Chocolate Drink Mix, contain pretty straightforward chocolate flavor that you'll need to build upon. If you want to lean into the flavors of Mexican hot chocolate, you can add some cinnamon and vanilla extract. Other baking spices, like cardamom, star anise, and nutmeg, all work great. Andrew Zimmern's signature hot chocolate is a solid path to go down if you want a recipe that's ripe for alterations. But whatever you do, when you want to make your hot cocoa extra warming and delicious, don't forget the cayenne.