El Molinillo, the chocolate whisk

The molinillo, also called "Chicoli" in Nahuatl, is one of the most traditional utensils in Mexican cuisine. There is at least one in every Mexican cuisine.

Made by hand from carved wood, molinillo is mainly used for the preparation of hot drinks; most commonly for chocolate, a drink that was popularized in Europe and much of the world when the Spaniards first mixed Mexican cocoa with milk and sugar. This instrument allows the ingredients to be mixed in a homogeneous and emulsified way, giving a foam, a very airy foam that retains all the aroma of the preparation.

Cocoa drinks were very popular in pre-Hispanic times and rather reserved for nobles such as Tlatoani, the leader. Indeed, cocoa; theobroma in Latin meant the "food of the gods".

To produce a good amount of foam, a lot of energy had to be invested, which further increased its value. The amount of foam reflected the sign of a particularly careful welcome. Its history also has a mystical touch because in pre-Hispanic culture, it was believed that the foam was alive and that it was pushed by a force called "pee" that was associated with fertility.

To use it correctly, you must hold the handle between the two palms of your hands. All that remains is to rub your hands against each other to make it turn with speed. The carved rings found on the lower part of the whisk have the effect of introducing air into the drink, which generates the much-loved foam. Each artisanal and unique piece is carefully cut in peanut wood from one and the same piece (rings included). They are made all over Mexico, but mainly in Oaxaca, Puebla, Michoacán and Mexico City. There are three main sizes: pot (30-40cm), pot (20-25cm) and cup (15cm).

In our casa Alegrías, we sought to highlight the uniqueness of each room to create a decorative effect. 400 molinillos adorn the ceiling of our main room. In our menu, you can enjoy our signature dessert "La Tablilla", which takes up the visual of the traditional tablet that is used with the molinillo in the preparation of cocoa drinks. You can also taste our "Maya Loca" cocktail which also revolves around the use of this Mexican whip. This one is not based on cocoa but uses orange, achiote, chamomile, honey and pollen.

See you at our Alegrias restaurant at 67 avenue Parmentier, 75011 Paris.

Book a table