What do we know about the history of cacao and chocolate?

The delicious secret of the cocoa tree was discovered more than 2000 years ago, when the seeds of the tree growing in tropical rainforests began to be used to prepare a delicious drink - chocolate. The story of chocolate is long and includes many cultures on many continents. The first records are found in the ancient cultures of Mexico and Central America. Members of these cultures, including the Mayans and Aztecs, mixed the crushed seeds of the cacao tree with various spices and thus a spicy and frothy drink was created.

Later, the Spanish conquistadors brought the seeds home to Spain, where new recipes were created. Eventually, the drink and its popularity spread throughout Europe. Since then, new technologies and techniques for processing cocoa beans have changed the structure and taste of chocolate. Despite this, the drink prepared from the seeds of the cocoa tree remains one of the world's favorite delicacies.

The roots of chocolate go back to ancient Central America, where chocolate was drunk as a hot drink. Chocolate was not only a popular food, but also played an important role in religious and social life. The first people to discover the secret of the cocoa tree were the Mayans (250-900 BC). fermented and later roasted. Cocoa powder was processed into a paste that was mixed with water, chili peppers, corn, and other ingredients into a spicy, frothy, chocolate drink. From the year 1400, the Aztec Empire controlled a large part of Central America. Taxes were collected from the conquered peoples, which included cocoa fruits. Thus they became a certain form of Aztec currency.

Like the Mayans, the Aztecs also consumed cocoa in the form of dark chocolate flavored with spices and sugar. Many people in the Mayan period could occasionally drink chocolate. However, in the Aztec period, this drink was primarily reserved for rulers, priests and important soldiers. Chocolate played a special role in religious rituals, ceremonies, priests offered cocoa drinks and cocoa tree fruits to the gods. Europe's first contact with chocolate occurred during the conquest of Mexico in 1521.

The Spanish observed the Aztec habit of drinking chocolate and soon ships began importing cocoa tree fruits to Spain. However, the price of cocoa was high and the consumption of chocolate became a symbol of the European elite for the next 300 years. The Spanish imported cocoa and mixed it with cinnamon and other spices. Later they started sweetening it with sugar. The secret of making a delicious drink was kept for almost 100 years before the rest of Europe discovered what the cocoa bean drink was missing. Sweetened chocolate became the biggest fad and novelty on the continent. Sweetened chocolate became the international flavor of chocolate.

It became a European symbol of wealth and power. Since cocoa and sugar were expensive commodities, only rich people could afford to drink chocolate. In France, the state had a monopoly on chocolate and only members of the royal court could drink it. Just like the Mayans and Aztecs, Europeans also developed their own special protocol for drinking chocolate. They designed porcelain chocolate cups and silverware, which also became symbols of wealth and power.hat do we know about the history of cacao and chocolate?