Chocolate was drunk rather than eaten for centuries. Montenzuma, the ruler of the Aztec Empire, would drink chocolate out of a golden cup before visiting his many wives, chocolate being considered a powerful aphrodisiac.

He may have drunk something like this: are you tempted to try?

Bring 500ml of fresh water to the boil in a small saucepan. Add a pinch of powdered chilli pepper, a pinch of turmeric, another of powdered ginger and a vanilla pod or some vanilla essence. Mix all thoroughly, then add 5 teaspoons of honey, and bring back to the boil.

Remove from the heat, add 75g of chopped up cocoa paste [cocoa paste is now widely available, it’s made of roasted cacao beans, dehusked, ground, pulverised then pressed and moulded].

Stir until well mixed, then whisk to a froth and serve immediately.