History of Chocolate By msgregson 100 Pre-Olec people in Central America grew and picked cacao beans in the Rainforest. Jan 1, 600 Mayan Indians started growing cocoa on plantations. Mayan Indians started growing cocoa on plantations. Jan 1, 1000 People in Central America were using cacao beans as money. They were also making it a drink and using it as medicine. Jan 1, 1200 The Aztec Indians demanded payment in the form of cacao beans. Jan 1, 1502 Christopher Columbus took cacao beans to Europe. Jan 1, 1528 Hernan Cortez took cacao beans to Spain. Only the rich could afford to buy a chocolate drink. Jan 1, 1615 A Spanish Princess took the Spanish custom of drinking chocolate to France. Jan 1, 1657 A Chocolate House is opened in England. Jan 1, 1764 Chocolate was first made in the United States. Jan 1, 1875 Milk Chocolate was invented. Jan 1, 1894 Milton Hershey creates his first candy bar. Jan 1, 1896 Leo Hirschfield makes the first tootsie roll and named it after his daughter. Jan 1, 1900 Milton Hershey introduces the Milk Chocolate Bar. Jan 1, 1907 The first Hershey's Kiss was made. Jan 1, 1922 H.B. Reese makes the first Reese's Peanut Butter Cup using Hersey's Milk Chocolate. Jan 1, 1930 Frank Mars makes the first Snicker's bar. Jan 1, 1941 Forrest Mars and Bruce Murrie formed a new company, M&M Ltd, and together they make the first M&Ms. Jan 1, 1991 The recipe for Reese's Peanut Butter Cup was changed to add three times the amount of peanuts.