November 25, 1976 : Vrindavan
Hari Sauri: I went up to the front gate tonight to check out the fare at a new snack bar that Mahavira Prabhu has set up. When I walked up, the first thing I saw was a small sign on the counter advertising hot drinking chocolate.
"Hey, Maha, that's not bona fide!" I called to Mahavira. "The hot drinking chocolate. You can't serve chocolate."
"No, drinking chocolate is different. It's okay. Prabhupada said it's okay."
We debated in this way for a few minutes. Then I said, "Well, let's go and ask Srila Prabhupada."
"What is that?" Prabhupada asked pleasantly as we offered our obeisance and sat before him.
"Well, the devotees are selling hot drinking chocolate at the new snack bar, Srila Prabhupada," I said, "and I don't think it's bona fide. Mahavira Prabhu thinks it is, so we thought we should ask you."
"Hmm. So, what is it made from?" Prabhupada asked thoughtfully.
He read out the ingredients. "It's mainly from cocoa, Srila Prabhupada."
"Oh, cocoa. That, there is cocoa bean, it comes from this?"
"Yes, Srila Prabhupada."
"No, then it is not all right. If it is from cocoa bean you cannot take. That means caffeine."
So that was it. The issue was settled, and hot drinking chocolate is no longer on the menu.
"Hey, Maha, that's not bona fide!" I called to Mahavira. "The hot drinking chocolate. You can't serve chocolate."
"No, drinking chocolate is different. It's okay. Prabhupada said it's okay."
We debated in this way for a few minutes. Then I said, "Well, let's go and ask Srila Prabhupada."
"What is that?" Prabhupada asked pleasantly as we offered our obeisance and sat before him.
"Well, the devotees are selling hot drinking chocolate at the new snack bar, Srila Prabhupada," I said, "and I don't think it's bona fide. Mahavira Prabhu thinks it is, so we thought we should ask you."
"Hmm. So, what is it made from?" Prabhupada asked thoughtfully.
He read out the ingredients. "It's mainly from cocoa, Srila Prabhupada."
"Oh, cocoa. That, there is cocoa bean, it comes from this?"
"Yes, Srila Prabhupada."
"No, then it is not all right. If it is from cocoa bean you cannot take. That means caffeine."
So that was it. The issue was settled, and hot drinking chocolate is no longer on the menu.
Reference: A Transcendental Diary Volume 5 - Hari Sauri Dasa
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