Home Restaurants & Food The Origin of Chocolate The Origin of Chocolate by Brooke Gazer June 11, 2019 by Brooke Gazer 3.9K By Brooke Gazer for The Eye Magazine Personally, I can’t imagine a world without chocolate, but before Cortez conquered Mexico it did not exist in Europe. In fact, it was centuries later before the confection that we know today came into being. In Mexico, where chocolate originated, it was not a sweet treat, but a bitter tasting beverage, mixed with chile and sometimes with blood. Apparently when Cortez first tasted it he commented that it was, “more a drink for pigs than for humanity.” The Ancient, Divine Beverage Believing chocolate to have divine properties, the Mayans and Aztecs reserved it for royalty and high priests. Common people might only have partaken during sacred rituals like birth, marriage, and death. Those about to be sacrificed were often given a gourd of chocolate, tinged with the blood of previous victims, to cheer them up. Of course, some fermentation had occurred and who knows what other intoxicants were added? Apparently, this concoction lifted their melancholy mood long enough for those victims to join in the dancing, climb the steps, lie over a stone altar and permit their hearts to be ripped from their chests. For centuries, cacao beans were used as currency in Mexico. Around 900 A.D., ten beans bought a rabbit. Cortez maintained this form of currency after the conquest, but the cost of a rabbit had risen to thirty beans. Inflation has been with us for a very long time. The Arrival of Sugar Many Mexicans seem almost addicted to sugar, but prior to the conquest, it was unknown in Mexico. The Spanish controlled most of the Caribbean Islands and with these islands came sugar cane. An industrious entrepreneur brought some to Mexico and one of the world’s first fusion recipes was born. A sweet drink made with cacao and sugar became popular, quickly spreading to Europe. Once someone thought to omit the chili, this beverage really took off as dozens of chocolate houses opened on the continent. Just Add Water In the early 1800s, a Dutchman named Coenraad Van Houten developed a process allowing cocoa to mix more easily with water. This made it possible for people to prepare the beverage at home. Most of us enjoy this satisfying hot drink made with milk, but in Mexico it is still more commonly made with water. The Invention of Solid Chocolate Half a century later, Joseph Fry revolutionized the chocolate industry. This British inventor added cocoa butter and sugar to the cocoa powder, introducing the world’s first solid chocolate. Daniel Peter and Henri Nestlé of Switzerland later added condensed milk, creating milk chocolate. The race had begun to produce the best sweet treat, when another Swiss gentleman, Rudolph Lindt, invented a machine that mixed chocolate to a perfect consistency. By 1907, Milton Hershey’s factory was popping out 33 million kisses per day in eastern Pennsylvania in the U.S. Today Fry, Nestlé, Lindt, and Hershey are still synonymous with the world’s most loved confection. The Aztecs and the Mayans, who originally developed cacao bean processing have, for the most part, been overlooked. 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail Brooke Gazer Brook was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, but caught the travel bug early. In 2001 she and her husband opened Agua Azul la Villa (http://www.bbaguaazul.com/), a six-room bed and breakfast. You can read Brooke's blog here: https://www.brookegazer.com/. She also writes for The Eye (https://theeyehuatulco.com/), a regional English magazine in Mexico. previous post Tips on Finding Your Mexico Home next post Make your Dream Vacation Home a Reality You may also like History in a cup: hot cocoa December 2, 2023 The Original Buzz-Inducing Elixir September 22, 2023 From ancient rituals to modern spirits September 8, 2023 Strung along by Oaxaca cheese June 30, 2023 Who says she can’t? Women in mezcal industry... April 7, 2023 How to find the “catch of the day”... April 5, 2023 Understanding Canela, or Mexican Cinnamon March 10, 2023 OAX Original wants to show you how diverse... March 3, 2023 Harvesting Cacao For Chocolate Still A Manual Process... January 13, 2023 Discovering Puerto Escondido, Mexico’s Boho Chic Gem December 23, 2022 Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.