| Learn how this mysterious food has woven its | | | | storehouses of the seeds. Cortes was offered |
| story throughout multiple cultures and | | | | a cacao plantation and a royal welcome from |
| continents impacting civilizations | | | | the Aztec ruler Montezuma, when he mistakenly |
| culturally, socially, economically, and | | | | thought Cortes was the reincarnation of a |
| spiritually. | | | | former god and king. This was the beginning |
| | | | of the downfall of the Aztec Empire, but |
| A journey through the history of chocolate | | | | helped Cortes realize that this crop had |
| reveals that this mysterious food has woven | | | | tremendous potential led him to establish |
| its story throughout multiple cultures and | | | | cacao plantations throughout the Caribbean. |
| continents impacting civilizations | | | | |
| culturally, socially, economically and | | | | When Columbus and Cortes returned to Spain |
| spiritually. A study of the history of | | | | the bitter cacao drink of the Aztec culture |
| chocolate begins by going back in time to the | | | | was introduced to Europe and there it was |
| realm of the Maya Indians and the Olmec | | | | sweetened to make it more in tune to the |
| Civilizations of Central America. | | | | European tastes. It became a drink of the |
| | | | elite and wealthy. Within ten years, |
| The word cacao was found in the Olmec | | | | chocolate was enjoyed throughout the courts |
| vocabulary nearly 3,000 years ago. The hot, | | | | in the French aristocracy. Chocolate became |
| humid, but shady climate of the tropical rain | | | | known throughout the countries of Europe and |
| forests of this region was perfect for | | | | in the middle of the 17th century chocolate |
| growing cacao plants. The Maya felt the cacao | | | | appeared in England. There it was highly |
| tree was owned by the gods and the pods were | | | | taxed continuing its reputation as a luxury |
| offered as a gift from the gods to man. The | | | | to be enjoyed only by those privileged enough |
| cacao pod became the symbol of fertility and | | | | to afford it. |
| life in the Mayan culture. | | | | |
| | | | Cacao was primarily only for drinking until |
| Later, in the 18th century, a Swedish | | | | 1828. Chocolate was prepared as a drink by |
| botanist named Linnaeus, called the cacao | | | | grinding up the beans into a thin paste and |
| tree theobroma cacao, which means "drink of | | | | adding spices and sweetening and then adding |
| the gods". It was the Mayan people that did | | | | something to soak up the cocoa butter, which |
| indeed make a drink from the cacao pods. This | | | | would float to the surface. |
| drink was considered a "royal" brew enjoyed | | | | |
| by the noblemen and kings and was often used | | | | Coenraad J. Van Houten, a Dutch chemist in |
| in sacred rituals. Hot chili peppers were | | | | that year invented a press which would |
| added to flavor it or maize was often added | | | | release the cocoa butter from the bean, |
| to change its texture. | | | | leaving the dryer cake that could be ground |
| | | | up into a powder similar to the fat-free |
| In 1502, Columbus, on his 4th and final | | | | cocoa powder we enjoy today. |
| voyage to the Caribbean, was given a sack of | | | | |
| cacao seeds as a form of payment. He was | | | | Twenty years later European companies used |
| unsure of the worth of the seeds, so the | | | | the presses made by Van Houten to produce the |
| Aztecs made him a drink from the pods to show | | | | first eating chocolate. By taking what was |
| him its potential. They felt this drink was a | | | | left after separating the cocoa powder from |
| source of energy, spiritual wisdom, and | | | | the butter, the industry saw that they could |
| enhanced sexual powers. They used it to | | | | melt the cocoa butter and combine it with a |
| fortify their warriors when in battle. | | | | blend of ground cacao beans and sugar, mix |
| Although Columbus did not personally care for | | | | this into a paste and mold it. Edible |
| it, he accepted the seeds in payment, being | | | | chocolate was the final product. Chocolate |
| curious as to its value upon returning to | | | | appeared on the market in the United States |
| Spain. | | | | around the turn of the twentieth century and |
| | | | now nearly one hundred years later is still |
| Years later, when Cortes arrived in the New | | | | in harmony with all who love it's unique, |
| World, he noted that the Aztecs used the | | | | rich taste. |
| cacao beans as their treasury and kept huge | | | | |