The History of Chocolate

Chocolate is one of the world's most beloved foods, enjoyed by billions of people across the globe. But the chocolate we know today looks and tastes very different from its ancient origins. Chocolate comes from the cacao tree, which grows in tropical regions near the equator. The ancient Maya and Aztec civilizations of Central America were among the first to discover cacao. They made a bitter drink from crushed cacao beans, water, and spices. This drink was so valued that cacao beans were also used as money. In Aztec culture, cacao was considered a gift from the gods. When Spanish explorers arrived in the Americas in the 1500s, they brought cacao back to Europe. Europeans added sugar and milk to make the drink sweeter. Chocolate quickly became popular among the wealthy in Europe, as cacao was expensive to import. In 1828, a Dutch chemist named Coenraad van Houten invented a method to press cocoa butter from roasted cacao beans, creating cocoa powder. This made chocolate easier and cheaper to produce. Then, in 1847, a British company created the first solid chocolate bar. Milk chocolate was developed in Switzerland in 1875. Today, the global chocolate industry is worth over $100 billion. However, most cacao is grown by small farmers in West Africa, many of whom face poverty and difficult working conditions. Choosing Fair Trade chocolate helps ensure that farmers receive a fair price for their work.