History of Chocolate

The earliest record of chocolate was over fifteen hundred years ago in the Central American rain forests, where the tropical mix of high rain fall combined with high year round temperatures and humidity provide the ideal climate for cultivation of the plant from which chocolate is derived, the Cacao Tree. The Cacao Tree was worshipped by the Mayan civilization of Central America and Southern Mexico, who believed it to be of divine origin. Cacao is actually a Mayan word meaning "God Food". The Maya brewed a spicy, bitter sweet drink by roasting and pounding the seeds of the Cacao tree with maize and Capsicum peppers and letting the mixture ferment. This drink was reserved for use in ceremonies as well as for drinking by the wealthy and religious elite; they also ate Cacao porridge.