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Mayas moved from Guatemala to Yacatan Peninsula and brought the cacao bean with them. In Guatemala, they established plantations to grow cacao
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People in Central America began using cacao beans as money. They also made a bitter drink used to treat coughs and fevers.
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The Aztecs began their rule in Mexico and demanded tax pay with cacao beans. They also used it for a drink, adding flowers, vanilla, and honey to it.
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Colombus was given his first drink of chocolate. He took some of the cacao beans back to his homeland.
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Hernan Cortez came from Cuba to find fortune. Him and his men fought the Aztec. He captured Montezuma, the Aztec emperor and began to rule the empire. He recognized the value of the cacao beans to the Aztecs. He established a cacao plantion in the name of Spain.
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Hernan Cortez took cacao beans back to Spain. He hid them in the Spanish monasteries and kept the formula for making chocolate a secret.
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The first comercially grown shipment of cacao beans was taken to Spain.
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Louis XIII of France's wife took the chocolate drink making custom to France.
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The first Chocolate House was opened in England. Only the rich could afford to buy it there.
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Louis XIV of France's wife shares her love of chocolate with her people. This is the first time people outside of the royal court can enjoy a chocolate drink.
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Pralines are created in Genensburg, Germany.
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The first solid chocolate is sold in a London coffeehouse.
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Charles VI takes chocolate from Spain to Vienna.
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Italians begin serving chocolate in Florence and Venice.
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Monsieur Dubuisson creates a table for grinding chocolate. It is heated underneath by charcoal and makes the production much easier.
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The Baker Chocolate Company was established in Massachusetts by James Baker and John Hannon. This was the first time chocolate was made in the US.
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In Barcelona, the first chocolate made by machine was produced.
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"Baker's Chocolate" is what Dr. James Baker calls his products.
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J.S. Fry & Sons used steam power to grind the cacao beans for the first time.
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Francois-Cailler returned from Italy and established the first SWiss chocolate making factory in Corsier.
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John Cadbury tried to convince drinking chocolate was healthier than alcohol. He opened tea and coffee shop in Birmingham, England.
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Coenraad Van Houten invented a hydraulic pressed used to make cacao powder.
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Cailler opens a large plant in Corsier, Switzerland.
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Cailler opened a second chocolate factory in Switzerland.