Invention of Chocolate and the people behind it!

 

Welcome back to this journey where I tell you everything about the world’s most favourite food, CHOCOLATE!

Have you wondered of how chocolate was invented or who were the ones to convert cocoa beans to chocolate? The history of chocolate dates to 4,000 years in ancient Mesoamerica (modern-day Mexico). The Olmec, one of the initial civilizations in Latin America, were first to convert cacao plant into chocolate. They drank an age-old drink during ceremonial traditions and used it as medicine.

Centuries later, the Mayans express chocolate as the drink of the gods. Mayan chocolate was a brew made of roasted and ground cocoa beans along with chillies, water, and cornmeal. Mayans transferred this mixture from one cup to another, which creates a thick foamy beverage called “Xocoatl,” which means bitter water. They regarded chocolate as a gift from the god Quetzalcoatl and drank it as a refreshing drink.

The upper classes in Europe consumed chocolate for its health benefits and its decadence. Chocolate was still produced by hand which was a time consuming and laborious process. in 1828, the invention of the chocolate press to stir up chocolate making. This device was used to make chocolate powder and then chocolate bars. 

And just like that, the modern era of chocolate was born! Stay tuned for my next blog to see how chocolate was bought to the markets and modern-day chocolates, till then stay content, stay safe and happy reading!