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Large Molinillo

National Museum of American History

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Object Details

Description
A molinillo is a whisk that was first produced by Spanish colonists in Mexico. They used the molinillo to stir and froth their chocolate drinks. Prior to Van Houten’s invention of the hydraulic press, chocolate contained a large amount of fat that was not soluble in water. A chocolate drink had to be continuously stirred in order to stay mixed. A larger molinillo, such as this, would have been used with a chocolate pot. These particular molinillos most likely date to the 20th century due to their decorative carvings and loose rings at the end.
Chocolate had been known and treasured by Native Americans in Central and South America for thousands of years prior to the arrival of the first Spanish explorers in the late 1400s and early 1500s. Cacao beans were so highly prized by Mayans and Aztecs that they were used as currency in many areas of the Americas. When first taken back to Europe by the Spanish, the chocolate drink continued to be produced exclusively for the enjoyment of royalty or the extremely wealthy. As the cacao bean gradually made its presence known throughout Europe, it still remained trapped in this exclusive section of society well into the 19th century.
The chocolate trade to North America began more than 300 years ago, primarily centered in or near major port cities of the time, such as New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and Newport, RI. Due to lower transportation costs, chocolate was often less expensive in the Americas than in Europe and therefore had a broader consumer base. The Industrial Revolution radically changed chocolate production and helped propel it into the hearts and stomachs of the working class. Instead of being a labor intensive product, it became entirely machine made reducing costs even further in the late 19th and early 20th century. During this time, chocolate went from being something a person drank to being something to eat, finally becoming a treat for the masses.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Gift of the Chocolate Manufacturers Association of the USA
ID Number
AG.76-FT-04.0008
accession number
315132
catalog number
76-FT-04.0008
Object Name
Molinillo
Physical Description
wood (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 30.8 cm; 12 1/8 in
place made
Mexico
See more items in
Work and Industry: Food Technology
Food
National Museum of American History
Record ID
nmah_867626
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ab-db25-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

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