Where Did the Chocolate Come From?

Chocolate is the staple fixture on the day dedicated to love is and can be traced back to the Cadbury chocolate company almost two centuries ago. 

John Cadbury set up his company in the eighteenth century in Birmingham, UK, and like other companies of that time, it made tea, coffee and drinking chocolate. 

But it wasn't until 1899 when the company came up with the idea of making drinking chocolate by adding milk to melted chocolate liquor. Cadbury also figured out a way to make to good-tasting chocolate bars that weren't going to cost an arm and a leg. Chocolate was expensive up to this point and only the rich could afford it. 

He then got the bright idea to create beautiful boxes for chocolates with cupid and roses. These became quite popular in the Victorian era and were considered a symbol of romance.

The search for “chocolates” began in ancient civilizations. There's evidence the Olmecs and Mayans in Central America were making chocolate as early as 1600 BC. 

Chocolate was considered a divine gift from the gods and only the

king or ruler was privileged enough to drink or eat it. So much so was its divine status that chocolate was also used in ancient rituals. It was not until European colonists arrived in Mesoamerica that chocolate was first eaten as a beverage, which allowed for greater understanding about chocolate. 

The Aztecs then inherited chocolate from the Mayans, who had conquered them and continued their research on its uses. They then began to make “xocolātl”, which means “bitter water” in Nahuatl, their language. Despite the bitter taste of xocolātl, it became a popular drink among both Aztecs and Mayans by mixing nectar (a sweet liquid) with xocolātl and spicing it up with chili peppers.

I admit I do love chocolate with chili peppers! And though the Victorians didn't come up with that idea, they are hugely responsible for chocolate being such a big part of Valentine's Day.

Until next time,

Kit