The Choclate Prince

Chocolate enjoyment began in Mesoamerica or “Mid-America”. This includes areas from central Mexico to Central America, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize and Guatemala. People used to process their own chocolate which came from the beans of the plant called Theobroma cacao. Cacao beans are fruits of cacao plant, dried, roasted and processed. 

 

Chocolate plays a vital role both in Mayan and Aztec civilization. In fact, cocoa beans were served as offerings to gods during religious ceremonies and chocolate drinks were served for everybody. The Mayan civilization considered the cacao tree as a divine tree, thus worshipped it. The word Cacao on the other hand, is a Mayan term which means “God Food”. Cocoa beans were roasted and pounded together with maize or corn and cayenne (Chili) peppers and then fermented.

 

The powder was reserved and served both during religious ceremonies and elite party. Cacao porridge was a perfect partner for the drink. The Mayans preserved their chocolate more other treasure such as gold and silver. In fact, every Mayans grow a cacao tree in their backyards. This is to make sure that there is enough chocolate for all the Mayans in the community. They also traded their chocolate with the other Native American people especially in regions where cacao tree could not grow in their land.

 

On the 12th century, Aztec began to develop the habit of drinking chocolate also. Which eventually became the Aztec elite drink, and said to be as the only one who can afford the priced cacao bean. Aztecs even came to a point of using the precious bean as currency and used to exchange for fruits and even for slavery.

 

Later, the European explorer reinvented their own cacao drink flavor by adding refine sugar and milk. That time Mesoamericans do not use both ingredients at all. It was in the 19th century when Briton John Cadbury came and began making solid chocolates, and later on came out into creating what is known today as the modern chocolate bar. Despite the truth that cacao also known as cocoa originates from America, Western Africa at present is known to produce two-thirds of the world cocoa. Known a Cote d’lvoire, still continues to expand.

 

The Aztec’s on the other hand, considered cocoa or chocolate as an aphrodisiac. It has been said that their Emperor used to drink fifty times a day as he quote “Xocolatl”. This probably explains why the Aztec’s valued chocolate more than silver and gold. In fact, when the Cortez defeated Montezuma in 1519, they were surprised to discover tremendous stocks of cocoa beans instead of treasure such as gold and silver.

 

Cortez began establishing cacao plantation in the land and shipping all harvest back to Spain. Thus, chocolate became a precious drink especially of the elite and the church high ranking officials, and for over a hundred years, Spain monopolized the trading of chocolate.

 

It was in 1600s when chocolate and Spain secret was revealed to the rest of Europe. The Europeans didn’t know the value of chocolate and thought that Spain got their treasures in the New World. When chocolate demand increased and huge demand from England, Netherlands and France came in, many countries began to colonize regions that they found out have suitable soil for cacao plantation.

 

With the widespread of chocolate across Europe, many countries began to develop interest that had soon established their own formulation and eventually came out with a more delicious and chocolate drink. Today, different kinds of nutritious and delicious chocolate drink and chocolate bars are already in the market and this is still growing.