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1500 BCE
what is chocolate?
the history of chocolate can be traced back to ancient Maya, and to the olmecs of southern Mexico. Chocolate is made from cacao trees, and the fruits are called pods and each pod contains around 40 cacobeans. they are then roasted and broken up. -
1200 BCE
Xocolatl
The Aztecs took chocolate admiration to another level. They believed cacao was given to them by their gods. Like the Maya, they enjoyed the caffeinated kick of hot or cold, spiced chocolate beverages in ornate containers, but they also used cacao beans as currency to buy food and other goods. Aztec chocolate, which they called xocolatl, was mostly an upper-class extravagance, although the lower classes enjoyed it occasionally at weddings or other celebrations. -
600 BCE
Mayan's Chocolate
The Olmecs passed down their chocolate knowledge to the Mayans. One thing the Mayans did was make chocolate drinks. Despite everyone being familiar with chocolate in Mayan culture, it was not reserved for the wealthy, but was actually ready to eat or drink for everyone.