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Sweeteners & chocolate · Chocolate

Mexican table chocolate

Coarse, grainy discs of chocolate ground with sugar and cinnamon, melted into hot chocolate and mole.

Also called: chocolate de mesa, table chocolate, Mexican drinking chocolate, chocolate tablets

Around the world: chocolate de mesa, chocolate para mesa, chocolate de metate (es)

A kind of dark chocolate (70–85%)

1 recipe with it

What it is

Chocolate de mesa is cacao stone-ground with sugar and usually cinnamon, sometimes with almonds or vanilla, and pressed into discs or tablets. It is much grainier and less smooth than eating chocolate because the sugar is not fully refined into the cocoa. It is meant to be dissolved in hot milk or water and frothed, not eaten as a bar.

How it’s used

  • Melted into milk or water and whisked for Mexican hot chocolate
  • Added to mole sauces
  • Champurrado (chocolate atole)
  • Grated into brownies and cakes

Characteristics

Taste
Sweet, cinnamon-spiced and less intense than dark chocolate.
Texture
Gritty and crumbly; dissolves to a slightly grainy drink.
Appearance
Round, segmented brown discs.
When cooked
Melts into hot liquid with whisking; doesn't melt smoothly on its own like couverture.
Sold as
whole
Cooking uses
Commonly cooked

Storage

Cool, dry and dark. Keep wrapped in a cool, dark cupboard away from strong smells; white streaks (bloom) are harmless.

Diet, allergens and safety

No major allergens in typical versions. May contain Milk, Soy, Tree nuts, Peanuts — check the label.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free (check label)
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free (check label)
  • Soy-free (check label)
  • Caffeine-free
  • May contain milk, soy, almonds or other nuts; check the label.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
426 kcal
Protein
3.64 g
Carbohydrate
77.41 g
Fat
15.59 g
Fibre
4 g
Sugars
69.4 g

USDA FoodData Central: Baking chocolate, mexican, squares.

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

Related ingredients

Recipes with mexican table chocolate