The real secret of Christmas Chocolate in Mexico is not vanilla but the proper species and cultivar of chili pepper. All chili have highlights and nuances, many vanilla. Some of the hottest have particularly sweet flavorful vanilla taste. These are the chili that are used to make hot chocolate for Felis Navidad. The mother of a friend when I was five or so taught me this in old town Albuquerque.
Love of the Holy Family be with you for the holidays,
Walter L Olson, Jr