History of chocolate

 

Hello everyone, today we are looking at the history of something most people like, that is chocolate.

The word “Chocolate” is likely derived from Nahuatl words such as chocolatl or xocoatl, though scholars still debate the exact origin. The first record of the English word chocolate was in 1604.

Some say that begins with sacred rituals in ancient Mesoamerica maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t but here are some of the information I have found.

The earliest known use of cacao traces back over 5,000 years in what is now Mexico.

The earliest confirmed civilization to use cacao, likely as a ceremonial drink was by The Olmecs way back around 1500 BCE. The is archaeological evidence that shows traces of theobromine a cacao compound in ancient pottery.

Then we have the Maya who cultivated cacao and drank it regularly as a thick, frothy, often mixed with chili, honey, or water drink. It is believed that it was a daily ritual.

It was considered “the food of the gods”, sacred enough to be buried with nobles. However, it wasn’t just for elites; many households consumed it daily.

Moving on to the Aztecs who valued cacao beans so highly they used them as currency, worth more than gold.

They drank xocolatl, a bitter, spiced chocolate beverage believed to give strength and vitality. Cacao was considered a divine gift from the god Quetzalcoatl.

Around the 1500’s chocolate had found its way to Europe with Spanish conquistadors encountered cacao in 1519 and brought it to Spain.

It was initially used as medicine; but soon became a fashionable drink among European elites. It was around this time that sugar was added, transforming the bitter drink into something closer to modern hot chocolate.

Over the next three centuries, chocolate spread across Europe, sparking debates about its religious and medicinal value.

It was in 1847 that chocolate became solid when Joseph Fry discovered that mixing cocoa powder, sugar, and melted cocoa butter produced a smooth, mouldable paste, something no one had achieved before. This mixture could finally be poured into a mould and set into a bar, making it the world’s first solid eating chocolate.

It was during World War 1 that Chocolate became a global commodity, especially after World War I, when soldiers received chocolate rations.

Over time new forms emerged such as white chocolate, couverture, and countless others. Also, production skyrocketed, with major markets expanding in Asia and Africa.

By 2018, the global chocolate trade exceeded US$100 billion.