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Jan 1, 600
Maya Cacao Plantations
Maya moved to the Yucatán Peninsula. They brought with them cacao. They established large plantations to grow cacao. -
Jan 1, 1000
Cacao = Money to Central America
The people in Central America began using the cacao beans as money. The beans were also used to make a bitter drink. This drink was used to treat coughs and fever. -
Jan 1, 1200
Aztecs sweeten cacao
The Aztecs demanded payment in the form of cacao beans. The Aztecs used the cocao bean for a drink. They added flowers, vanilla, and honey to their drink. -
Mar 12, 1502
Columbus encounters cacao
Christopher Columbus was given his first drink of xocoatl (chocolate) on his fourth voyage to America. Although he did not like the drink he took some of the cacao beans back to his homeland as an unusual item to show the people at home. -
Jan 1, 1519
Spanish Plantations
Hernán Cortéz also recognized the value of the cacao bean to the Aztecs. He established a cacao plantation in the name of Spain in Mexico. -
Jan 1, 1528
Cacao travels to Spain
Hernán Cortéz returned to Spain with some cacao beans. Only the very rich could afford to buy the drink. -
Cacao goes Commercial
The first commercially grown shipment of cacao beans grown in South and Central America was taken to Spain. -
France encounters cacao
Anne of Austria, a Spanish princess, marries Louis XIII of France and takes the Spanish custom of chocolate drinking to France. -
Chocolate Houses
The first chocolate house is opened in England by a Frenchman. Only the rich could afford to buy chocolate at the chocolate house. -
Chocolate released to public
Maria Theresa of Austria marries Louis XIV of France. She shares her love of chocolate with the people of France. For the first time people outside the royal court enjoy chocolate drinking. -
Solid Chocolate
A London coffeehouse sells the first solid chocolate in a stick form. -
Chocolate goes to Austria
Charles VI moves from Madrid, Spain to Vienna. He takes chocolate with him. -
Chocolate in Italy
The Italians begin serving chocolate in Florence and Venice. -
Innovation of Production
Monsieur Dubuisson, creates a table for grinding chocolate. This lets the workers stand up while grinding the cacao bean. The table is heated from underneath by charcoal. -
Chocolate in USA
The Baker Chocolate Company is established, This was the first time chocolate was made in the United States -
Mechanization
The first chocolate made by machine is produced in Barcelona, Spain. -
Industrialization
Coenraad Van Houten, a Dutch chocolate maker, invents a hydraulic press that is used to make cacao powder -
Chocolate Bars
The first manufacturer of chocolate in England creates the first chocolate bars. Their shop is called J. S. Fry & Sons. Not many people liked this because of its bitter taste. -
Milk Chocolate
Daniel Peter figures out how to combine milk and cocoa power to create milk chocolate -
Smooth Chocolate
Rodolphe Lindt invents the conch. This machines makes the chocolate smooth for the first time. -
Hershey Chocolate
Milton Hershey creates his first candy bar. He also makes baking chocolate, cocoa, and chocolate coatings for caramels. -
Hershey Milk Chocolate
Milton S. Hershey introduces the Milk Chocolate Bar. -
Hershey Kisses
The first Hershey Kisses are made. -
Heath Bars
L. S. Heath & Sons, Inc. makes the first Heath Bar in Robinson, Illinois -
Reese's Cups
H. B. Reese makes the first Reese's peanut butter cup using Hershey's milk chocolate. -
Snickers
Frank Mars makes the first Snickers candy bar. -
Almond Joys
Peter Paul makes the first Almond Joy. -
Nutrition Labels
Hershey Foods begins putting nutritional information on their labels. -
Space Race
Chocolate goes into space on the U.S. spaceship Columbia. -
Chocolate as Rations
Hershey sends 144,000 of their heat-resistant candy bars to soldiers in the Gulf War, Desert Storm -
Modern Chocolate
The average American consumes 12 lbs. of chocolate each year, and more than $75 billion worldwide is spent on chocolate annually.
