History of Chocolate
Chocolates are made from cacao (cocoa) seeds. They were grown for over 3000 years in Mexico, Central America and South America. The earliest use of cocoa is remembered to be around 1100 BC. A large number of people from Mesoamerican and Aztec culture made hot beverages and drinks out of chocolate.
The Mesoamericans called it ‘bitter water’. They mixed the seeds with water, spices, Chile peppers, cornmeal and other ingredients to make a spicy chocolate drink. This recipe was adopted by the Aztecs when the Aztec empire ruled a large segment of Mesoamerica. The cacao seeds were also considered as a form of Aztec money at that time.
Drinking spicy chocolates became a ritual which had to be followed at least once in every occasion or ceremony. This was particularly a luxury of the royal families back then but people like primary rulers, priests, decorated soldiers and honored merchants could also enjoy this sacred brew. The cacao seeds were also used as an offering to their gods.
After many years, Spanish explorers brought cacao seeds home and they created new recipes. It became popular in Europe and since then chocolate lovers are busy enhancing and creating new dishes and recipes of chocolate, thanks to new technology and innovations.
In Europe, until the 1500s, no one was aware of this delicious drink that was later going to be a huge hit in the world. The search route for riches led the Spanish explorers to America where they introduced this valuable drink. Within 100 years, love of chocolates caught fire in the rest of Europe and later, the rest of the world.
