The History of Chocolate

How many of you have wondered what the history of chocolate is? ...Don't tell me that I am the only one who cares...??? Okay, well anyways... I love chocolate and I recently read a book about how chocolate originated. It got me thinking, and today I researched it online. I thought I would share what I learned...


Cacao, (which chocolate is created from), originates from the Amazon, where it was discovered at least 4,000 years ago by the Aztecs. The Aztecs were so enraptured with the cacao bean that they associated its creation to their god Quetzalcoatl. (Legends have it that this "God" Quetzalcoat came from heaven (riding a beam of a morning star...ha ha ha!) carrying a cacao tree stolen from paradise.

The Aztects were so in love with the cacao bean, that they ended up using at as their currency. A rabbit could be purchased for 10 beans and a slave for 100. The Aztects first discovered the cacao bean by watching the monkeys who played in the rain forest trees. These smart monkeys would pick the bright pods that grew on the small cocoa trees. They would break the pod open, suck out the sweet while pulp and spit out the bitter beans which were in the middle of the pod. The bean would fall on the ground and grow into another cocoa tree. Soon the Aztects started copying the monkeys. They would all suck out the pulp and spit their seeds into a pile. After a while, the villagers started noticing a delicious smell coming from the pile of rotting beans. The farmers started trying to figure out a way to turn this wonderful smell into a delicious drink. Eventually, they figured it out. They called their new drink "Chocol haa." It was a very bitter drink, but they liked it.

This "Chocol haa" drink soon became part of the Mayan's daily life. They began to drink this bitter drink daily.

Hundreds of years later, a group of merchants journeyed onto the Mayan's land. The Mayans were worried about this new group causing problems, so to keep peace they offered them some of their beans. Soon the two groups became friends. They were completely obsessed with this new drink and the cacao bean. They worshiped the beans, bought and traded with the beans, and painted it on everything they owned.

In 1519, Hernan Cortes, a Spanish explorer went with army to fight the Aztects. After many battles, the emperor of the Aztect's invited Cortes to his court to make peace. He gave Cortes a cup of their "Chocol haa" drink. Cortez loved it, but thought it was rather bitter. In 1528, Cortes sailed back to Spain. On his boat were sacks and sacks of cocoa beans. Once he was back home, Cortes shared the delicious drink with his friends. They soon altered this bitter drink, by adding sugar and drinking it hot. Thus becoming what we know today as: Hot Chocolate.

Soon, someone learned a way to turn this wonderful drink into a paste, which just needed water added, to drink it. Soon a group of monks went to visit Philip, the Spanish prince. Prince Philip loved it and it was soon made the drink of the Spanish court.

Eventually, people everywhere over Europe were talking about chocolate. Unfortunately, making this delicious drink was a long hard process, therefore only the rich people could enjoy it.

A short time later, the steam engine was invented. Factories started popping up all over Europe, turning cocoa beans into chocolate drinks with much ease. Eventually, hot chocolate was not just a delicious drink for the rich people...but people everywhere of every position could enjoy this wonderful drink.

In 1847, Francis Fry decided to try to turn the drink into a chocolate bar. He decided that the only thing that could be better than drinking chocolate would be eating it. A short time later Francis Fry invented the very first chocolate bar ever.

Soon factories everywhere were making bucket loads of chocolate bars. In the 20th century chocolate makers were starting to figure out new ways to make chocolate. They invented new flavors (dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, ect. ect.) learned how to make it creamier, richer and started experimenting with adding ingredients to the mix (such as nuts, ect.) and they also started shaping their chocolates into various shapes (i.e. chocolate kisses and m&m's.) Today chocolate is as we know it...getting better every day.