March 26th, 2009
The Story of Chocolate and the Americas
Chocolate has its origins in the Mayan civilisation of Yucotan. The
cocoa tree is believed to have been discovered 2,000 years ago in the
tropical rainforests of the Americas. The Azetecs of Mexico are known
to have believed in the mystical origin of the cocoa tree, they
cultivated the crop, and began consuming the cocoa beans as a unique
recipe called ‘chocolat.’
The beans looked like almonds, so at first the Spanish invaders
showed little interest, but they were to become the source of chocolate
and cocoa as we know it today.