Molinillo or Chocolate Whisk
Molinillo or Chocolate Whisk
Usage conditions apply
- 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 small molinillo would have been used with an individual serving size cup. A large molinillo would have been used in a chocolate pot.
- During the 18th century, the preparing, serving and consuming of chocolate and coffee became a ritualistic affair for the middle classes. While it had been popular with upper classes for a century earlier, the desire to mimic the upper classes led to a proliferation of utensils and serving ware to enhance the experience.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- stirrer
- Physical Description
- wood (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 10 5/8 in x 1 1/8 in; 26.9875 cm x 2.8575 cm
- ID Number
- 2014.0015.03
- accession number
- 2014.0015
- catalog number
- 2014.0015.03
- Credit Line
- Mars, Inc.
- See more items in
- Cultural and Community Life: Domestic Life
- Domestic Furnishings
- Food
- American Enterprise
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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