History of chocolate
has its twists and turns but in the end it has turned out to be a wonderful delight for many to enjoy. You will find while researching the chocolate history that chocolate has been entangled in the history of many countries for several centuries. In the History of chocolate, in earlier years, chocolate was a drink that only the people of royalty could afford. Some countries were even known to use chocolate as currency at one point and time. History of chocolate shows that chocolate is still an important part of society today. Many will give chocolate as a gift in some shape or form or they will indulge in a chocolate delight themselves.
In 7th Century AD the Mayans were discovered cultivating the cocoa trees in Central American in the region known as the Yucatan. The cocoa trees were growing wild in the basins of the tropical rainforests of Orinoco and Amazon for over 4000 years. An interesting fact that was discovered was that cocoa beans were used as a form of payment and they were also used as a unit of calculation around 1000 AD. Following 1000 AD Feudal Aztecs were paid taxes with cocoa beans.
Cocoa beans were later brewed into cocoa made from a thick paste that was made with roasted cocoa beans by people who are known as Indians. Later, other ingredients were added such as cinnamon, vanilla, maybe even pepper. With the other ingredients added the cocoa beverage became a popular drink among the royalty and was too expensive for the poor people in the towns. The poor would use the cocoa as a flavor to a boiled corn mixture.
History of chocolate reads that the cocoa drink goes on to be even more elite than before when the Aztec Emperor in the years 1480 to 1520 ruled the drink to be for males of a certain class. According to this Aztec Emperor Montezuma the cocoa drink helps relieve your fatigue and builds your immune system as well. The Aztec Emperor Montezuma claimed that this cocoa drink is so good that a man can walk all day without any food.
History of chocolate will show the first European to discover the cocoa bean in the year 1502 was Christopher Columbus. He discovered the cocoa beans on his fourth voyage in Nicaragua.at this time the local natives drank the cocoa drink and used the cocoa beans as currency. Christopher Columbus proceeded with his search for the route to India.
Later in the history of chocolate cocoa became the drink fit for a king. A plantation of cocoa was established in the name of the Spanish crown in 1519 by Hernan Cortez. Cortez was fascinated by the prospects of using cocoa beans as way of making payments. He introduced the drink to Charles V. in 1520 of Spain.
The cocoa drink was so good that the news traveled from Spain to France in 1615. The French was introduced to the cocoa drink through the marriage of Spanish princess Anna of Austria to French King Louis XIII. After, the Italian and French merchants began opening stores called chocolate houses in the year 1657.By the year 1720 several chocolate houses now known as coffee houses were established in Florence and Venice.
In the history of chocolate in the 18th century chocolate was known to help with stomach aches.
John Hanan introduced chocolate to the United States in 1765. He had purchased cocoa beans in the West Indies. John Hanan along with Dr. James Baker then opened the first chocolate factory in North America.
In the history of chocolate in the 19th century chocolate was easier to produce because of the newer technology.
Today in the history of chocolate the industry has $50 Billion plus in retail sales. Everyone loves a good, rich chocolate.
