Recipe Provocateur: Tifa's Drinking Chocolate

Since the opening of this quaint and delectable purveyor of chocolates, coffee, and gelato in Agoura Hills, residents have a newfound love for dessert, especially for Tifa's simple yet delightful drinking chocolate. For only $3.75, customers receive heaven in a glass. Served with a generous portion of freshly whipped cream and a crisp wafer, Tifa's drinking chocolate can fill any sweet tooth.

Though Tifa specifically prepares their drinks with imported Belgium Callebaut chocolate, their mouth-watering drinking chocolate recipe is surprisingly easy and fast to prepare in your own kitchen, and also uses local supermarket ingredients without sacrificing quality. This week's Recipe Provocateur is Tifa Drinking Chocolate with vanilla and cinnamon flavoring, and it truly takes the cake. 

Tifa Drinking Chocolate

Prep Time: Less than 15 minutes.

Serving Size: One individual-sized drinking chocolate for personal indulgence.

Ingredients: 

About ¼ cup milk. For richer drinking chocolate, use half and half or whole milk.

One vanilla bean or five drops of vanilla extract, which can be substituted or combined with other extracts, such as lavender, rose or almond.

2 oz. of finely chopped dark or milk chocolate. Tifa uses imported Belgium chocolate, however Godiva or Lindt could be used as supermarket substitutes.

1 1/2 oz. freshly whipped cream, or more, depending on your preference.

One wafer or biscuit.

Instructions: 

1) Scoop three level portions (about 1 ½ tablespoons per scoop) of chocolate pieces into a small mixing cup (metal is preferred).

2) Add five drops of each extract being used (and/or vanilla bean), plus ¼ teaspoon of any seasoning (cayenne pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, honey, or peanut butter).

3) Shake the added flavors and chocolates gently together to mix.

4) Steam about ¼ cup half and half (or enough to just cover the chocolate-flavoring mixture) and pour the milk over the mixture.

5) Let the steamed milk begin to melt the chocolate, then use a small whisk to slowly and gently mix the ingredients until the chocolate is thin enough to drink. As a test for completeness, lift the whisk. When thin droplets fall the mixture is ready for drinking.

6) Whip preferred amount of whipping cream until it is thick, and serve with a biscuit or wafer.

7) Sit back, relax, and enjoy Tifa's indulgent chocolate treat.

Download the movie