The history of chocolate
Many people believe that chocolate was originated by the Aztecs,
but it has been found to date back to the time of the ancient Mayan
civilization, and some argue even farther back to the Olmec civilization which
preceded the Maya. The word "cacao" is a Mayan word dating back to as early as
500 A.D. Chocolate was thought of by these people as a cure for several ailments
including diarrhea and fatigue and was consumed in the form of a hot, bitter,
frothy drink made of ground cacao beans and a variety of local ingredients,
including vanilla, wine, and chili pepper.
Christopher Columbus was the first known European to come in
contact with cacao around 1500 A.D. but did not bring any of it back to Spain.
However 20 years later Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortez brought chests full
of cacao beans back with him from his voyage. The beans were treasure stolen
from the Aztecs. The first official shipment of cacao was made in 1585 from
Veracruz to Seville. At this time the chocolate was still served as a bitter
beverage, but experimentation began and sugar was soon added.
In 1828, Dutch chocolate maker Conrad van Houten patented a
hydraulic press to remove cocoa butter from the bean. What was left was a cake
that could be pulverized into cocoa powder.