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Now that it was finally cold outside, Seokjin was determined to find the ultimate recipe for hot cocoa. While he and all the members liked coffee and tea just fine, cocoa is the ultimate comfort drink. When they were feeling stressed, sick, or upset, they always wanted hot cocoa, and while packaged mixes were okay, it just wasn’t the same.
He had been searching and looking up different recipes for the entirety of the last three months, determined to try them out. He had finally narrowed the contestants down to four different recipes. The guys had decided to have a movie night that night, so he had a captive test group. Luckily, they had multiple carafes around so he could start making them ahead of time. He also made several batches of cookies to go with it. By the time everyone was gathered around in the living room in pajamas or sweats, he marched the carafes out and 7 mugs.
“Before we start the movie, I need your help with something. I want to find the best hot cocoa recipe in the world, so I’ve made 4 types. I want us all to try it and decide which is best,” he told them as he served the first flavor. The first one was a version of white hot chocolate. It was fine but Jin thought it was too sweet.
“Are you sure this isn’t just hot sweetened milk, hyung?” Namjoon asked after tasting it.
“No, there’s melted white chocolate in there too. But white chocolate is naturally sweeter I think.”
The second one was a standard hot cocoa made with milk chocolate. As the members sipped the second one, they debated back and forth the merits of each.
“I still think this is too sweet, hyungie,” Yoongi complained.
“It tastes the same as those powdered packets. It’s not the best in the world, but it’s fine,” Hoseok stated.
The third had called for the most expensive chocolate he could find. Luckily, he had bought some nice Belgian chocolate when they were on tour in Europe and he’d used that.
“Ooh, I like this one, Jinnie-hyung!” Jungkook was bouncing happily in his seat with cookies in both hands after finishing the cup of cocoa.
“I like this one too, JK. But I’m most excited to try this last one. Namjoonie gave me an article about how the Aztecs in Latin America were the first drinkers of hot cocoa and they put spices in theirs. This recipe is supposed to mimic those,” Jin explained.
The smell of the cinnamon and chili in the cocoa permeated the room as Jin poured some in each of their cups.
“Wow! It smells like Christmas!” Jimin exclaimed as he peered into his cup.
Jin took a sip. The bitterness of the dark chocolate mixed with the cinnamon and chili perfectly and the tiny bit of sugar in it made it so that it wasn’t as bitter as coffee. It was so different than anything any of them had tried before.
“This one is my favorite,” Yoongi said. “It’s a little bitter but still chocolatey and the chili makes my insides feel all warm.
“I don’t like spicy things, but this isn’t too spicy. I kind of like it too, but I like the third one too,” Taehyung said.
They debated and argued amongst themselves for a few minutes before finally coming to the consensus that most of the group liked the third and the fourth ones equally.
“Maybe we will just have to keep the ingredients for both around. But I guess we will have to take a whole suitcase to Europe with us and just fill it with special chocolate,” Jin said thoughtfully.
“Hyung…why can’t we just order it online?” Taehyung asked.
“Oh. I guess we could.”
“Can we start the movie now? I’m full of cocoa and cookies and want to nap,” Yoongi grumbled.
Finally, they turned out the lights and got settled to start the movie.
“Thank you for tasting my cocoa recipes,” Jin said.
“You’re welcome, Hyung. Can I have some more of that last one?” Jungkook asked softly.
Jin poured more cocoa in Jungkook’s cup, then curled up in his spot on the sofa between Taehyung and Namjoon. Namjoon spread a blanket across all of their laps and Taehyung snuggled up to Jin’s side and leaned his head on his shoulder.
“You’re so good to us, Hyung. Thank you so much for always feeding us well,” Taehyung whispered as the movie played on in the background.