An Ancient Sacred Food

Chocolate originates from Central America. The natives of these parts consumed it as a beverage.

The Aztecs have traditionally been acknowledged as the original drinkers of cacao. However archaeological evidence indicates that the Olmec (1150-300bc) and the Maya (200bc-ad1550) grew cacao as a domestic crop in Central America. So for over three thousand years humanity have had a love affair with cacao; what has now become chocolate!

The cacao bean was prized not only for its taste but also for its medicinal purposes. The cacao bean was also the main form of currency in central America for over a thousand years.

A slave could be bartered for 100 cacao beans, a chicken four, and a rabbit two beans.

Chocolate itself was considered so precious that it was reserved for warriors, nobility, and priests.  Cacao was taken as a drink for special religious ceremonies and was considered a fertility enhancer!

And so for over three thousand years chocolate was consumed as a sacred beverage; ground, mixed with water, spices, chillies, and maize flour, and then aerated by pouring it between small bowls from a height. The froth was much sought after. The Mayans drank it warm, the Aztecs drank it cold. Truly the first Chocolatiers!