The History of Chocolate

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