Chocolate: or, An Indian Drinke | Page 6

the weight of 2. Reals, or a shilling of Anniseeds; as much of Agiote, as will give the colour, which is about the quantity of a Hasell-nut. Some put in Almons, kernells of Nuts, and Orenge-flower-water.
Concerning this Receipt I shall first say, This shooe will not fit every foote; but for those, who have diseases, or are inclining to be infirme, you may either adde, or take away, according to the necessity, and temperature of every one: and I hold it not amisse, that Sugar be put into it, when it is drunke, so that it be according to the quantity I shall hereafter set downe. And sometimes they make Tablets of the Sugar, and the Chocolate together: which they doe onely to please the Pallats, as the Dames of Mexico doe use it; and they are there sold in shops, and are confected and eaten like other sweet-meats. For the Cloves, which are put into this drinke, by the Author aforesaid, the best Writers of this Composition use them not; peradventure upon this reason: that although they take away the ill savour of the mouth, they binde; as a learned Writer hath exprest in these verses:
Foetorem emendat oris Cariophilia foedum; Constringunt ventrem, primaque membra juvant.
Cloves doe perfume a stincking Breath, and Bind The Belly; Hence the prime members comfort find.
And because they are binding (and hot and dry in the third degree) they must not be used, though they help the chiefe parts of Concoction, which are the Stomacke and the Liver, as appeares by the Verses before recited.
The Huskes or Cods of Logwood, or Campeche, are very good, and smell like Fennell; and every one puts in of these, because they are not very hot; though it excuse not the putting in of Annis-seed, as sayes the Author of this Receipt; for there is no Chocolate without it, because it is good for many cold diseases, being hot in the third degree; and to temper the coldnesse of the Cacao; and that it may appeare, it helpes the indisposition of Cold parts, I will cite the Verses of one curious in this Art:
Morbosus renes, vesicam, guttura, vulnam, Intestina, jecur, cumque lyene caput Confortat, variisque Anisum subdita morbis Membra: istud tantum vim leve semen habet.
The Reyns, the Bladder, throat, & thing between-- Enatrailes and Liver, with the Head, and spleen And other Parts, by [C] it are comforted: So great a vertue's in that little seed.
[C] Annis.
The quantity of a Nut of the Achiote[D] is too little to colour the quantity made according to his Receipt; and therefore, he that makes it, may put in it, as much as he thinkes fit.
[D] Ta-asco.
Those, who adde Almons, and Nuts, doe not ill; because they give it more body and substance then Maiz or Paniso[E], which others use; and for my part, I should always put it into Chocolate, for Almonds (besides what I have said of them before) are moderately hot, and have a thinne juice; but you must not use new Almons, as a learned Author sayes in these Verses.
[E] A graine like Millet.
Dat modice calidum dulcisque Amigdala succum, Et tenuem; inducunt plurima damna nova.
New Almonds yeild a Hot and slender juice, But bring new mischiefs by too often use.
And the small Nuts are not ill for our purpose; for they have almost the temper, which the Almons have; onely because they are dryer, they come nearer the temper of Choler; and doe therefore strengthen the Belly, and the Stomacke, being dryed: for so they must be used for the Confection; and they preserve the head from those vapours, which rise from the Belly: as it appeares by the said Author in these Verses.
Bilis Avellanam sequitur; sed roborat alvum Ventris, & a fumis liberat assa caput.
Filberds breed Chollar, Th' Belly Fortifie, Benzoin the Head frees from Fumosity.
And therefore they are proper for such as are troubled with ventuosities, and Hypochondriacall vapours, which offend the brain, and there cause such troublesome dreames, and sad imaginations.
Those who mixe Maiz or Paniso in the Chocolate doe very ill; because those graines doe beget a very melancholly humour: as the same Author expresseth in these Verses.
Crassa melancholicum pr?stant tibi Panica succum Siccant, si penas membra, gelantque foris.
Grosse Eares of Corne have Cholorique juice (no doubt) Which dries, if taken inward; cooles without.
It is also apparantly windy; and those which mixe it in this Confection, doe it onely for their profit, by encreasing the quantity of the Chocolate; because every Fanega or measure of [F] Grani containing about a Bushell and a halfe, is sold for eight shillings, and they sell this Confection for foure shillings a pound, which is the ordinary price of the Chocolate.
[F] Maiz, or Indian Wheat
The Cinamon is hot and dry in the third degree; it provokes Urine, and helps