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The history of chocolate is a rich and interesting one. Most of the world didn't know chocolate existed until Columbus went to the Americas and took the cacao bean with him back to Spain. However, it wasn't until the Conquistadors went to Mexico that the Spaniards really discovered the wonders of cacao.
The Aztecs and Mayans worshipped the cacao bean and believed it
was a food of the Gods. The Aztecs used it as both nourishment
and currency. They believed the fruit of the cacao tree imparted
wisdom and they made a special drink with it called xocolatl, of
which the Aztec emperor Montezuma is said to have consumed large
amounts every day.
When the Spaniards conquered the Aztecs, they were fascinated by
cacao but thought the xocolatl drink was too bitter, so they
added cane sugar to it and drank it hot, thus creating the first
hot cocoa.
The Spanish kept their new discovery a secret from the rest of
Europe for about 100 years.
With the decline of Spain as a power, the secret of cacao
leaked out at last, and the Spanish Crown's monopoly of the
chocolate trade came to an end. In a few years the knowledge of
it had spread through France, Italy, Germany, and England. (from "The History of Chocolate and Cocoa" published by The Nestle
Company)
In 1847 the first solid chocolate bar was created by Fry & Sons
in Bristol, England. The first milk chocolate bar was created in
1875 in Switzerland by Daniel Peters. The first chocolate
factory in the United States was founded in 1765 in Dorchester,
Massachusetts.
Today, chocolate is big business and is sold in every country in
the world. The little cacao bean has come a long way.
About the author:
Rachel Williamson is a contributing writer for Eat This!, where
she has written about the history of chocolate.
And who can resist it now? With the amazing varieties now available, you can experience chocolate like you've never had before.
Copyright © 2005 Stephanie Foster unless otherwise indicated
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