The Journey of Chocolate: From Ancient Times to Today
Chocolate is something that many people love to eat, but its history is very big. The transformation of chocolate from a beverage to a modern-day dessert is a very interesting journey that includes many things, like the movement of chocolate from one place to another, the appreciation of new and unique plants like cacao trees, and the love for the plant. Building new technology to perfect the use of the plant to provide people with the appreciation of more chocolate.
The Ancient Beginnings: Cacao in Mesoamerica
The base of the dessert chocolate, The cacao plant, and the history of the chocolate people love. The story of the chocolate people love has its base in the tropical center of M Ricardo M, The Mesoamerican region, which is also home to M Ricardo M. The cacao tree is scientifically called Theobroma cacao.
Theobroma means God's food in Greek which goes well with the description for the way people lived their lives around the plant. Theobroma cacao is a tree canopy with a branched out large trunk and presents its fruits in big pods which contain the sweet white pulp that provide the beans of the cacao food.
The Olmec, Maya, and Aztec civilizations really appreciated and admired the cocoa bean. The Maya culture also seems to be where the term ‘cacao’ originated, from the term \Ka’kau’\ as these civilizations considered the cocoa bean to be food and also a symbol of wealth and a tender for exchange in sacred religious practices.
Cacao's Journey to Europe: A Sweet Transformation
The Mayan civilization also considered cocoa to be a delicacy of the royal and a drink of the gods. In old Mayan art and engravings, archaeologists have shown representations of Mayan gods drinking chocolate. Later the Aztecs dominated and the drink was known as "xocolātl" meaning bitter water. For the aristocracy and military an elite drink was made from dried cocoa and other brain and strength enhancing additives like vanilla, spice peppers and color to create an elite drink, which was reserved for aristocratic military and brain power boost.
Cacao's Journey to Europe: A Sweet Transformation
Some historians suggest that true interaction between Europeans and cacao might have occurred during Columbus's fourth voyage to the Americas in 1502. Columbus did not care for the beans, however. Real European interest in cacao began in 1519 with conquistador Hernán Cortés, though European attempts to cultivate the beans began as early as 1520. The Spanish were fascinated by the drink enjoyed by Montezuma II, ruler of the Aztec Empire.
The drink became much sweeter, as adding cane sugar and cinnamon became popular. For a long time, Spain monopolized the trade for the drink, and Europe became immediately fascinated with the commodity, even milking the drink and creating modern-day hot chocolate to sweeten it lightly.
Over the years, the trade of the commodity became popular amongst the working class, and Spain began to lose its grip on the trade, as the drink became even more modified and altered, and the drink became a rich commodity the working class could enjoy.
From Beverage to Solid Form: Birth of the Chocolate Bar
For many years it was dry cake chocolate that was happily mixed with water and as a result made a chocolate drink, but how do we make it a solid? The first chocolates to ever be made in a solid chocolate form, we refer to as chocolate tablets, and began in the 1600s. This was accomplished by pressing the cacao bean and extracting some of the cocoa butter, and then dry cake was produced from the beans, grated into chocolate water.
The creation of the cocoa press by Dutch Chemist Coenraad Van Houten in 1828 was the most important invention for the history of chocolate as it was a game changer for the production of chocolate. This invention made it possible for the creation of cocoa naked powder, a new ingredient, to be made. The pressed beans left in the cocoa butter would be useless for new chocolate ideas, but was made into cocoa solid powder. The invention of the press produced a vision for many chocolate ideas.
The Industrial Revolution and Mass Production
The first ever production and creation of chocolate was significantly due to The industrial revolution. There were many new steam powered machines that produced the creation of chocolate at a widespread and accessible amount. The first ever companies producing chocolate in a mass amount were Cadbury and Nestle.
J.S. Fry and Sons was the first company to make the first modern chocolate bar in 1847. They created chocolate bars by blending cocoa powder, sugar, and cocoa butter. They created the first smooth chocolate bar, and then poured the melted chocolate into molds to create chocolate bars. This was the start of the chocolate bars that we know today. Daniel Peters was the first chocolatier to create and sell milk chocolate, and sweeten chocolate. This created a shift to see chocolate as a candy and treat that was to be enjoyed by everyone.
Chocolate's Global Reach and Cultural Influence
The increasing availability of chocolate products had a large impact on world cultures. Every area of the world made chocolate products that suited local tastes which lead to a wide variety of products. Today chocolate is in almost all baked recipes, a few examples are the renowned Belgian Pralines and Swiss Truffles or the American Chocolate Chip cookies and the Mexican mole sauces.
Also, chocolate started as something people enjoyed, but now they also celebrate with it, give it as a token of appreciation and a means of comfort, like calming a person down. Especially in holidays like Valentines, Easter, and Halloween, we give and get a lot of chocolate.
Sustainability and Ethical Concerns
While the chocolate industry continues to expand, so does the demand for responsible practices within the industry. Problems like deforestation, the use of child workers, and lack of proper wages to farmers have plagued the cacao industry. Now, within the industry along with consumers, there are calls for change and responsible practices to be embraced. Programs like Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance Certification support farmers with sustainable growing practices, and in turn ensure farmers receive a fair price for their crops. These practices promote sustainable farming efforts and economic support to the millions of people who rely on growing cacao.
Chocolate’s long trip from history to the present and worldwide success is an example of creativity and innovation belated from the stars. While eating a chocolate bar, one should remember the history of the bean, and its cultural wonder, and especially the artsy food of the gods for the last several millennia, for it has a rich and ancient history.
Explore the World of Plants at Home
Though growing a cacao tree is likely to be a challenge unless you’re located in the tropics, you can still grow a wide variety of fascinating and useful plants. Whether you have a garden or want to grow botany indoors, spice plants and pretty blooming trees can thrive in your home. The wonder of growing plants is still within your reach.
Use your own planting journey to the full potential and visit TN Nursery to learn of their endless variety of trees, shrubs, and perennial plants. Nature is full of wonder and now can be yours.
FAQs
What is the origin of chocolate?
Chocolate's story begins with the Theobroma cacao tree in the tropical areas of Mexico and Central America. This area was occupied by the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec civilizations. They all grew cacao and drank the beans as part of a frothy bitter beverage and a ritual drink reserved for the elite class.
Who invented chocolate?
Chocolate creation was a process that spanned a lot of time, and, therefore, no specific individual can be said to have invented it. The first people to discover the processing and consumption of cacao beans were the ancient Mesoamerican people. They were then brought to Europe by the Spaniards, where it was sweetened with sugar. The chocolate bar that we eat today was made for the first time in 1847. This was made possible by Coenraad van Houten, who invented the cocoa press in 1828. The first chocolate bar to be produced and sold was made by Joseph Fry.
What are 5 facts about chocolate?
One of the 5 facts is, the Aztec used caco beans as money. Also Theobroma cacao is the scientific name and it means food for the gods. Another fact is that white chocolate has no chocolate only has caco butter. Approximately 400 caco beans makes one pound of chocolate. Lastly the country that eats the most chocolate is switzerland.
What is the real story of chocolate?
Now enjoyed throughout the world as a sweet treat, chocolate originated as a sacred and very bitter drink enjoyed by the ancient people of Mesoamerica, the Mayas and the Aztecs, and used during ceremonial occasions. When Spanish explorers brought it back to Europe during the 16th Century it was sweetened with sugar and became a dessert just for the rich. With the invention of chocolate bars during the Industrial Revolution, chocolate then became a dessert everyone could enjoy.
How does chocolate affect the brain?
Chocolate has a stimulating effect on the brain during heightened experiences. Dark chocolate, in particular, has even stronger stimulating effects, especially as consumption increases and flows directly to the brain from the heart. Thinner, syrup-like chocolate flows faster and stimulates the brain more. The psychological impact of chocolate grows with consumption, becoming uncontrollable. Chocolate can inspire grand, marvelous thoughts and feelings, emphasizing its marvelous and flowing nature.
