Year 6 recently stepped back in time to explore the fascinating world of the ancient Maya—through taste! As part of their history topic, the children had the opportunity to make traditional Maya hot chocolate right in the classroom.

Unlike the sweet hot chocolate many of us enjoy today, the Maya version was rich, frothy and full of bold flavours. The children learned that cacao beans were highly valued in Maya culture, even used as currency and that chocolate was often prepared as a drink for special occasions.

Using authentic ingredients, the class mixed cacao with water, a touch of spice and a little natural flavouring. Once the cacao beans had been gently roasted, the children helped to remove the shells and grind the beans into a paste using a pestle and mortar. The paste was added to hot water and expertly transferred between two jugs to create that signature frothy texture. There were plenty of surprised reactions to the bitter taste but also lots of curiosity and thoughtful discussion about how recipes change over time.

It was a fun, hands-on way to bring history to life and the children did a fantastic job embracing something completely different. A memorable experience for everyone!