Cone sugar

[TANSTAAFL]

Not sure if this is the right place, but here goes.

Stopped by "Smart and Final" (a wholesale restaurant supply outlet open to the public) today for some shopping with the wife, as she likes many of the items there not found in the supermarket chains. Was surprised to find the hard dark cone sugar at $2.35 a pound. Package contained four of the hard cones, and one can definitely taste the molasses. Brand was "Montecitco, Alimentos de Callidad" product of Mexico. So now have some PC sweetener for tea & coffee in camp or on the trail.

Also got some of the "Nestle Abuelita" authentic Mexican hot chocolate drink mix. Comes packaged as six hard chocolate tablets, (each tablet can be broken into 7 pieces, with one piece sufficient for a cup) It is composed of, sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, etc. It was only 2 bucks for the 19 ounce package, I like it broken up and dissolved in hot water, makes a terrific perk up drink on cool mornings. It too is also, hecho en Mexico.
[url] http://www.smartandfinal.com/intro.aspx?ReturnUrl=/index.aspx[/url]
[url] http://www.smartandfinal.com/locations.aspx[/url]

 

[JiminTexas]

Try the "Ethnic Foods" section of your local stores. O)r, you casn try the "tiendeas" in some of the Hispanic neighborhoods. Here in Texas we are very familiar with Mexican chocolate and cone sugar. Drop me a PM if you need some. I love the chocolate. Until you have tasted real AMexican chocolate, you haven't tasted chocolate, but it takes as thrmonuclear reaction to get it to disolve in either milk or water, but the sugar comes in handy when you break you sledge hammer. You can use it to drive in the tent pegs.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Thanks for the offer, but have found both here locally. And you a right about the Mexican chocolate, it rates head and shoulders above the other concoctions. We grate the Nestle Abuelita and and use about 1/4 teaspoon in our coffee, getting where it is about the only way we drink coffee.

And one could dull a good knife on the cone sugar, need to find some of the sugar nippers they used on it.

 

[TexiKan]

Although it is not chocolate or cone sugar, I do enjoy drinking Horchatas. For those who are not familiar with this drink, it can be found either as a powder mix or in a thick, syrup-like concentrate. It primarily consists of rice, vanilla, cinnamon and almond flavorings. It is a great, cold drink. Occassionally, I can add some crushed strawberries for added flavor.

Another nice Mexican drink!

TexiKan

 

[Blizzard of '93]

I've used that cone stuff, I shave pieces into my hot tea. Good out in the campsite.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Sounds good, will keep my eye peeled for some.

 

[Coot]

Townsend (www.jas-townsend.com) has nice (but pricey - $60) sugar nippers.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Whoa, with that kind of $, think I will just break out the old pair of side cutters.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

I just shave curls off the cone with patch-knife blade. 3-4 per large cup of tea.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Sounds like a winner, one could then use the cone for a whet stone to resharpen the knife. :grin:

 

[Blizzard of '93]

It is tough stuff but not that bad! :bull:

 

We have Nestles Abuelita here, but I buy Ibarra. It's almost exactly the same, including the shape and color of the packaging, but but it costs about $2 less. I can't tell any difference in the taste.

Each wafer makes a quart of cocoa, just put a wafer in a quart of cold milk, microwave on 50% power for 15 minutes, then mash up the wafer and use an electric mixer to blend it thoroughly. The same instructions work for the Nestle's.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

but but it costs about $2 less

Dang, that is expensive, the Nestles is only 2 bucks for the 19 oz. hexagon package of six tablets here.

 

My mistake, Nestles is only $2.98 while Ibarra is $1.98. I'm on my second quart of Nestles and I've decided I prefer the Ibarra chocolate.

 

[renovato]

Ahh, all foods I'm very familiar with here in El Paso. Every store here has cone sugar (piloncillo), abuelita and horchata.

You can find them in any hispanic market though, and I doubt there's a place in the entire country that doesn't have a large hispanic population somewhere. Definately give them a try.

The cone sugar is an excellant sweetener. I've replaced white and brown sugar with it exclusively. I pound it into chunks with a hammer then grind it fine for sprinkling. I take a cone camping and shave it off as needed.

 

[jarrowood]

did you look at the smoke and fire web site? they sell cone sugar and other things. [url=http://www.smoke-fire.com/

 

[noworries]

This Amnesty deal goes through and you won't have a problem finding any of this stuff anymore!

 

[whitetrash078]

Locally, we have Pedro Lopez brand mexican chocolate. It is made in Topeka and comes in a rectangular brick. It is so hard a person could tile a roof or collect them to build a building, but tastes way better than the nestle stuff.

 

[whiskey]

Historically speaking, was mexican chocolote a bar with chocolote and spices combined like Ibarra or was mexican chocolate a standard chocolate drink with spices added seperately.
I am inclined to think that it was the latter, does anyone know?

 

[renovato]

They did add the spices seperately. I've seen several old mexican recipes and they all called for spices. Everyone had their own version.