what spice do you put on hot chocolate plus caffeine question

[epabella]

i grate nutmeg and cinnamon on mine, any other spices applicable?

also, does anyone know about the caffeine content in a typical mug of hot cocoa?

[Cherylptw]

I recently dusted my hot chocolate with five spice powder..it was delicious but the chocolate should be dark; it just melds better. I also like grated orange zest & ginger

[toveggiegirl]

Hot chocolate has very little caffeine per serving, usually less than 10 mg per 8 oz. cup (as compared to about 130 mg in an equivalent cup of coffee).
I like my hot cocoa plain although sometimes I add a little vanilla extract. You can also add peppermint or almond extract.
If you like cinnamon and nutmeg, you might enjoy ginger and cloves (or more simply, pumpkin pie spice).
You can also make an Aztec hot chocolate by adding some chili pepper (in addition to the cinnamon). If you like hot foods, you can use any kind of heat you enjoy, Chinese Five Spice or Garam Masala would work well.
And there is always liquor - rum, raspberry liqueur, amaretto, Grand Marnier, Kahlua, Baileys, bourbon...
Check out Michael Turback's Hot Chocolate book for some great ideas (including the famous Chocolat Africain from Angelina Café.

[gordeaux]

I have a tiny btl of peppermint oil - one drop is PLENTY. This little bottle is probably one oz, and has lasted three years so far.

I also like a tsp of ground ancho.

[epabella]

what kind of peppermint oil do you recommend i buy? i like this idea alot (reminds me of the girl scouts cookies thread and i really like thin mints).

[ipsedixit]

Cinnamon and nutmeg here as well.

Sometimes I also use chili powder.

Not a spice per se, but there are times when I can't resist swirling in a teaspoon of peanut butter.

[MartiniGenie]

Definitely Cinnamon and a drop of pure vanilla extract.

[bluemoon4515]

I like ginger, and sometimes cardamom. (Not a spice, but I really like some dulce de leche swirled in there).

I imagine the caffeine would differ depending on how much cocoa powder or chocolate is used, but I agree with toveggie girl that the caffeine will probably be negligible either way. I think the sugar added would be a larger source of energy.