Food of the Month: Chocolate

Posted on 07/26/2022 by FTB

The history of chocolate can be traced to the ancient Mayans and Aztecs, and even earlier to the ancient Olmecs of southern Mexico. The Aztec term "xocolatl," which means bitter water, is the origin of the word "chocolate." Fortunately, the chocolate we know and love today is very different from the unsweetened beverage the Aztecs consumed. In this blog, we will dive deeper into the history of chocolate and discuss modern-day chocolate.

HISTORY OF CHOCOLATE

The 4,000-year history of chocolate originated in Mesoamerica, modern-day Mexico. The earliest cacao plants were discovered here. The first people to make chocolate from the cacao plant was the Olmec, one of Latin America's first civilizations. They utilized chocolate as medicinal and to drink during rituals. The Mayans praised chocolate as the food of the gods' hundreds of years later. Cacao seeds that have been roasted and ground are combined with chiles, water, and cornmeal to make the famed Mayan chocolate. By the 15th century, the Aztecs have taken chocolate admiration to another level. They believed cacao was given to them by their gods so in addition to consuming the chocolate, they also used cacao beans as currency to buy food and other goods. In Aztec culture, cacao beans were considered more valuable than gold.

The exact date that the chocolate arrived in Spain is unknown. According to legend, in 1528, the explorer Hernán Cortés brought chocolate to his own land. During a voyage to the New World, Cortés is thought to have made the discovery of chocolate. Instead of finding money and wealth, he discovered a cup of cocoa that the Aztec monarch had handed to him. Among the wealthy and powerful in Spain, chocolate gained popularity swiftly. Even Catholic monks like chocolate and used it as spiritual help.
MODERN CHOCOLATE

While some chocolatiers still manufacture their creations by hand and use as few impurities as possible, the majority of modern chocolate is highly refined and mass-produced. Although it can be consumed as a beverage, chocolate is more frequently eaten as an edible treat or in baked goods and sweets. Dark chocolate has established itself as a heart-healthy, antioxidant-rich treat, whereas the average chocolate bar is not considered particularly nutritious. There is a big downside to modern-day chocolate. As many cocoa farmers struggle to make ends meet, some turn to low-wage or slave labor to stay competitive. Large chocolate manufacturers are being urged by grassroots campaigns to reevaluate where they source their cocoa. Additionally, it has led to calls for the production of more ethically and sustainably produced "fair trade" chocolate.
SOME DELICIOUS FACTS
- Cacao cakes were given to Spanish royalty as dowries.
- Montezuma, the emperor of the Aztecs, consumed 50 cups of cacao per day from a golden chalice.
- Given that it lacks cacao liquid or solids, white chocolate isn't regarded as chocolate.
- Chocolate is manufactured from a seed that comes from a fruit tree.
- The name of the tree that yields cocoa beans, Theobroma cacao, translates as "food of the gods."