hot chocolate, also known as hot cocoa or drinking chocolate, is a hot drink. it is usually made by mixing chocolate or cocoa powder, sugar, and usually a sweetener. hot chocolate may be topped with whipped cream or marshmallows. hot chocolate is usually drunk to make the drinker feel happier or warmer. some studies have shown that hot chocolate may be healthy because of antioxidants that are in cocoa. until the 1800s, hot chocolate was also used by doctors as a medicinal drink.