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Chocolates, rich in taste, rich in history. In the same manner that chocolates are rich in both taste and appearance, they are also known to have a very rich history.
Chocolates for Centuries
For hundred of years, chocolates have been an integral part of the history of countless countries. And through those years, chocolates had several uses in the society. They were used as a type of money the early people could use when trading, buying or selling. Aside from being a currency, chocolates were also popularly known as indulgent drinks exclusive and available only to royalty. Today, people from all over the world enjoy chocolates which are presented in various kinds of forms and continue to play an essential role in many cultures.
Mayans’ Discovery of Crops and Wild Trees Ignited Discovery of Chocolates
The history of chocolates started out when archeologists discovered that the people Mayans planted and grew crops and wild trees in the Yucatan area of Central America during the 7th century A.D. The very pioneer trees that they were able to grow were the cocoa trees that cultivated in the hot and tropical rainforests situated within the Amazon and Orinoco basins about 4,000 years ago.
Chocolates as a Currency Used in Trading and Barter
In fact, historians have confirmed evidence that cocoa beans were initially used as a form of disbursement or expense. During those early times, another equally important role of chocolates is as a unit of calculating goods or items during the 1000 A.D. When people trade or buy or sell merchandise or goods, they used chocolates for trading and bartering in lieu of the money that we enjoy paying for goods during the modern times.
Paying Taxes with Chocolates or Cocoa Beans
And immediately after that period when chocolates were being used as currencies, even all their taxes, they had to pay in cocoa beans to Feudal Aztecs. And after hundreds of years, the first peoples who are now presently called the "Indians", prepared delectable chocolate drinks by brewing the cocoa beans to form a thick pasty mixture and eventually garnished with some roasted pieces of cocoa beans.
Spicing up Beverages with Chocolates
Adding water and various spices like vanilla as well as cinnamon, pepper and other strong condiments, these chocolates became a luxurious and classy, expensive yet very accepted beverage enjoyed exclusively by royalty and Kings. While the poor and economically challenged who till the lands growing and cultivating cocoa beans, are restricted from drinking the beverage. They are given allocation of the chocolates to be used as flavor for their boiled corn; however, very sparingly.
Cocoa A Divine Drink to the Early Peoples
Cocoa or chocolate drink was considered a beverage exclusive for the drinking consumption of the male elite and as a matter of fact, during the Aztec Emperor Montezuma’s regime, they called the chocolate drink, the “divine” beverage, which they believed could build up a man’s resistance and fight off stress or fatigue. In1480 until1520, Aztec Emperor Montezuma was even quoted saying this: “A cup of this precious drink permits a man to walk for a whole day without food." Truly, chocolates and chocolate drinks alike have been a well-loved and well-admired naturally grown commodity not only in the early years or olden times, or the modern times, but all throughout chocolates’ history!
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