Mole poblano is perhaps the best known of all mole varieties. An ancient dish native to the state of Puebla, it has been called the national dish of Mexico, and ranked first as the most typical of Mexican dishes.
Mole poblano contains about 20 ingredients, including sugar and
cocoa
, but for practicality and simplicity,
chocolate
is also used, which works to counteract the heat of the chili peppers, but its flavor does not dominate. It helps reinforce the sauce's dark color provided by
mulato pepper
. This sauce is most often served over turkey, a meat native to Mexico, at weddings, birthdays and baptisms, or at Christmas with romeritos over shrimp cakes.