History of Chocolate

Finding of Cocao in the New World

Jan 1, 1502

Eventually countries got intrested in the land across the sea, later known as the Americas. The first to set sail were Spanish Conquistadores with Christopher Columbus.
Local people offered him their treasured gift in a form of unusuall looking almonds. They were extremly valuable to them, since when they fell into the water people dove in to save them. The spanish were amazed by this act, but they thought it was local strangness.

Cortes and the Aztecs

Jan 1, 1519

Hernando Cortes, a Spanish conquistador, traveled to modern day Mexico. When he arrived he was generously greeted by the Aztec emperor, Montezuma. Since they believed he was a king. They prepared a feast for him, with chocolatl to drink for dessert. By 1512, he had conquered the Aztec nation and taken everything they had, including gold and cocoa beans. The Spanish also used the cocoa beans as a local currency: they bought slaves, food and drinks

Chocolate in Spain

Jan 2, 1521

Cortes introduced Spain to the delicious chocolatl drink but since The drink was much too bitter for the Spainiards, they added sugar and renamed it chocolate. Since both beans and sugar had to be imported, the drink became known as a luxury that only royalty could afford. Chocolate was also regarded as good for your health which only increased demand.

Secrets Revealed

Jan 6, 1565

Benzoni, an explorer working for the Spanish army, describes in his traveling notes in 1565 for the first time how the cocoa drink is prepared.
The Spanish keep this secret from the rest of the world, in the hope they can keep their monopoly in the cocoa trade.

Chocolate in Medicine

Apr 7, 1631

medicinal classification of chocolate is found in the first publication of the recipe for chocolate made by the Spanish doctor Antonio Colmenero de Ledesma in 1631. This was based on the ancient Aztec recipe, but the bitter flavor was enhanced by adding flowers and herbs like anis, vanilla, Roses of Alexandria, cinnamon, almonds, hazelnuts… The exact spices added depended on the physical ailments one suffered.

Spreding to the rest of the World

Jan 1, 1650

Despite Spain's effort to keep chocolate to themselves, Europe was drinking chocolate in cafes by the 1650's. After the marriage of Princess Maria Teresa of Spain and King Louis XIV of France in 1660, French nobles began to acquire a taste for the sweet drink just like their queen. In the 1700's Europeans brought cocoa powder back across the sea to the New World. The colonies of America loved the drink.