Question: When was chocolate invented?
Answer: The word chocolate was actually derived from the Aztec language known as Nahuatl. Chocolate is something ancient people enjoyed just as much as we do today. The history of chocolate can be traced to Mesoamerica. Chocolate, the fermented, roasted, and ground beans of the Theobroma cacao, can be traced to the Mokaya and other pre-Olmec people, with evidence of chocolate beverages dating back to 1900 B.C.
The Aztecs believed that cacao seeds were the gift of Quetzalcoatl, the God of wisdom. The cacao seeds were considered very valuable and were used as currency by the Aztecs and the Maya. The Mayans and Aztecs were also known to make a drink called “Xocoatll” from the beans of the cocoa tree. The drink was believed to have aphrodisiac powers and to give the drinker strength. Chocolate was often used in ancient religious rituals.
See also:
Chocolate Was Introduced In Europe – On July 7, 1550
Cacao Tree Was Born 10 Million Years Ago – It’s Much Older Than Previously Thought
In 1528, the conquering Spaniards returned to Spain with chocolate still consumed as a beverage. A similar chocolate drink was brought to a royal wedding in France in 1615, and England welcomed chocolate in 1662.
In 1847, Fry & Sons in England introduced the first “eating chocolate,” but did not attract much attention due to its bitter taste. In 1874, Daniel Peter, a famed Swiss chocolateer, experimented with various mixtures in an effort to balance chocolates rough flavor, and eventually stumbled upon that abundant product — milk. This changed everything and chocolate’s acceptance after that was quick and enthusiastic.
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Source:
Pace University – History of Chocolate
