Chocolate is one of the greatest things in the history of the world. But what about the history of chocolate? When did this magical, delicious treat come to us?
In The Beginning
The history of chocolate all began in the Amazon Rainforest thousands of years ago! The cacao tree grows in tropical areas in Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and West Africa. Inside the fruit of the cacao tree, also known as a pod, there are cacao beans. The cacao beans are what make up cocoa and chocolate.
The Aztecs invented chocolate over 3,000 years ago not as a dessert treat, but rather as a beverage. What could be better than drinking chocolate? Those who had the chance to drink the celebratory beverage made of cacao beans were high-status in the Aztec world. When the Spanish conquistadors came to the Aztec empire, they fell in love with this scrumptious chocolate beverage that they had never had before.
Imagine living back then with the Aztecs when the only people who experienced the joy of chocolate were the elite. These days you can live like the king or queen you are with gourmet chocolate any day of the week! The Latin name for the cacao tree is Theobroma cacao, which means “food of the gods.” Those Latin dudes knew what they were talking about!
From The Pod to The Table
Just as technology has developed over the ages, so has the technology of chocolate. Chocolate doesn’t just come off of the tree as magical truffles -- perfection takes time. The cacao beans are harvested and then ground into powdered form. Once cacao beans are ground into powdered form, the substance is called cocoa!
It took awhile for us measly humans to understand how to make chocolate out of the pods from the “food of the gods,” but we got there! In the sixteenth century, Spanish nuns sweetened their chocolate by adding delicious things like honey, sugar, and cinnamon. Cocoa on its own can be quite bitter, so these nuns were very clever to add sweetness to the rich chocolate.
The journey of trial and error with chocolate continued for much longer. It wasn’t until 1657 when the first chocolate house opened in London that people started to add milk to chocolate instead of water -- can you believe it?
History In The Making
Chocolate has been so important to humans that in the 1980’s there were even chocolate spies! At Dorinda’s Chocolates, we understand just how significant chocolate can be. Now that you know the full story of how chocolate came to be one of the most delicious creations on the planet, indulge in some chocolate of historical significance! Get the good stuff.
At Dorinda’s Chocolates, we use only the best ingredients to make heavenly chocolate treats that entice your palate. Some of our favorites here at Dorinda’s Chocolates include the Award-Winning Sea Salt Caramels and our famous Tahoe Bark, which is made of dark chocolate and toffee.
Stop by Dorinda’s Chocolates and find more history-making chocolate today!