History of Chocolate

The history of chocolate dates back more than 5,000 years, when the cacao tree was first domesticated in present-day Ecuador. Soon after domestication, the tree was introduced to Mesoamerica, where cacao drinks gained significance as an elite beverage among cultures including the Maya and the Aztecs. Cacao was considered a gift from the gods and was used as currency, medicine, and in ceremonies.

A variety of cacao-based drinks existed, including an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting the pulp around the seeds, however, it is unclear when a drink that can strictly be defined as chocolate first originated.
Early evidence of chocolate consumption dates to 600 BC, when it was often associated with the heart and believed to have psychedelic properties.

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Source: Wikipedia · Image: Wikimedia Commons · Public domain