Hot chocolate

Hot chocolate or drinking chocolate or cocoa is a sweet drink made from cacao beans. In its most traditional form, it is made by melting bars of dark chocolate in a saucepan. Poirot's version of hot chocolate is the continental style--very sweet, very thick, sometimes with cream on top.

Hot chocolate in the works of Christie

 * The Disappearance of Mr Davenheim - "The kettle was on the boil, and a small enamel saucepan beside it contained some thick, sweet chocolate which was more to Poirot’s palate than what he described as ‘your English poison’."
 * The Chocolate Box - Poirot had a cup of thick, rich chocolate which Hastings says he would not have drunk for a hundred pounds. "Poirot sipped the thick brown mess in the pink china cup, and sighed with contentment."
 * The Cornish Mystery - Hastings ordered two whisky sodas and a hot chocolate for Poirot. Hastings notes that the order for chocolate caused much consternation and he doubted it would appear.
 * The Nemean Lion - George brings in his morning chocolate. Seems to be the first thing he takes.
 * Dumb Witness - In Chapter Five, Hastings says that Poirot always drank chocolate for breakfast, with "machinelike regularity". Hastings finds this habit to be revolting.
 * One, Two, Buckle My Shoe - George brings Poirot a steaming pot of chocolate and some sugar biscuits after lunch.
 * Third Girl
 * He is drinking hot chocolate when Norma Restarick arrives at the beginning.
 * Ariadne Oliver succeeds in tempting Poirot to visit her with a cup of hot chocolate with foaming whipped cream on top.

Hot chocolate in adaptations

 * After the Funeral - Poirot tells Miss Gilchrist that he prefers to make his own cocoa. In this case he uses the term "cocoa" and it is made from powder!