Who first used cocoa beans?

It was first domesticated 5,300 years ago, in equatorial South America, before being introduced in Central America by the Olmecs (Mexico). More than 4,000 years ago, it was consumed by pre-Hispanic cultures along the Yucatán, including the Maya, and as far back as Olmeca civilization in spiritual ceremonies.

Who were the first people to use cocoa beans?

Chocolate's 4,000-year history began in ancient Mesoamerica, present day Mexico. It's here that the first cacao plants were found. The Olmec, one of the earliest civilizations in Latin America, were the first to turn the cacao plant into chocolate. They drank their chocolate during rituals and used it as medicine.

Who first discovered that cocoa beans were edible?

One story says Christopher Columbus discovered cacao beans after intercepting a trade ship on a journey to America and brought the beans back to Spain with him in 1502. Another tale states Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes was introduced to chocolate by the Aztecs of Montezuma's court.

Where did cocoa beans originate?

Cocoa was first developed as a crop in many ancient South American cultures, with the Aztecs and Mayans being the most well-known of these indigenous populations. Researchers have found evidence of cocoa-based food dating back several thousand years.

Who brought cocoa beans?

The victory of cocoa in Africa started with Tetteh Quarshie. Legend has it that he secretly brought the cocoa to Ghana and, by doing so, laid the foundation for one of the most important Ghanaian and African export products.

The history of chocolate - Deanna Pucciarelli

When was the first cocoa beans?

It was first domesticated 5,300 years ago, in equatorial South America, before being introduced in Central America by the Olmecs (Mexico). More than 4,000 years ago, it was consumed by pre-Hispanic cultures along the Yucatán, including the Maya, and as far back as Olmeca civilization in spiritual ceremonies.

Who introduced cocoa in Africa?

The credit of having first brought the cacao tree from the New World to the African tropics undoubtedly goes to the Portuguese. They are reputed to have planted cacao on the island of San Thome" (off French Gabon) as far back as 1822.

Did the Mayans use cocoa beans as currency?

Although people mostly bartered goods, the use of cacao stood out from the others. While cacao beans were consumable commodities, the ways ancient peoples used them exhibited the attributes of the use of currency. The civilizations at the time, such as the Mayans and Aztecs, valued cacao as money.

When was cocoa powder invented?

In 1828 C.J. van Houten of the Netherlands patented a process for obtaining “chocolate powder” by pressing much of the cocoa butter from ground and roasted cocoa beans.

What is the history of cacao?

The cacao tree is believed to have evolved in the Upper Amazon region in an area that now includes parts of Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. From there it spread northward, probably with the help of early Amerindians, across the Andes and into Central America where it became a part of their diet and culture.

Which country made chocolate first?

What Is the Birthplace of Chocolate? Archaeologists have discovered the earliest traces of cacao in pottery used by the ancient Mayo-Chinchipe culture 5,300 years ago in the upper Amazon region of Ecuador.

Did the Aztecs discover chocolate?

The Aztecs learned about the value of cacao beans from their predecessors, the Maya who began cultivating cacao as early as 600 AD, and the Toltecs who continued it. Aztecs adopted the idea that it was a god-given fruit, used cacao beans as a commodity, and followed the tradition of preparing chocolate as a drink.

How did the Mayans use cacao?

The Maya usually consumed their cacao as a hot drink, a steamy broth served in a clay cup. One of the earliest depictions of it used in exchange dates to the mid-7th century.

Did Mayans make chocolate?

The Mayans consumed chocolate by first harvesting the seeds -- or beans -- from cacao trees. They fermented and dried them, roasted them, removed their shells, and ground them into paste. (Much of that process remains unchanged to this day.)

How did Aztecs use chocolate?

Unlike the Maya of Yucatán, the Aztecs drank chocolate cold. It was consumed for a variety of purposes, as an aphrodisiac or as a treat for men after banquets, and it was also included in the rations of Aztec soldiers.

Did the Romans have chocolate?

One of the most popular fruits among all Romans was carob. Carob was the equivalent of modern-day cocoa and was frequently used to add its chocolate-like flavor to various dishes. Originally, the carob pods were eaten raw straight from the tree.

What's the difference between Mayans and Aztecs?

The main difference between Aztec and Mayan is that Aztec civilization was in central Mexico from 14th to 16th century and expanded throughout Mesoamerica, while the Mayan empire branched all over a vast territory in northern Central America and southern Mexico from 2600 BC.

How did Aztecs use cocoa beans as money?

The Mayans and Aztecs used them as money, and were very protective of their beans. They paid for food, clothes, taxes, gifts, and offerings to their gods using cocoa beans. Having a pocket full of beans was like having a wallet full of cash. As far as these Mesoamericans were concerned, money really did grow on trees.

Who first brought cocoa to Ghana?

Tetteh Quarshie (1842 – 25 December 1892) was a pre-independence Ghanaian agriculturalist and the person directly responsible for the introduction of cocoa crops to Ghana, which today constitute one of the major export crops of the Ghanaian economy.

Which country has the best cocoa in the world?

Best cocoa production in the world

There are many countries that produce cocoa in the world. But not all cocoas are the same. There are them of greater or lesser quality; suitable for making derivatives or ideal for the most demanding palates. Currently, Ecuador is the country where the highest quality cocoa is found.

Did the Incas have chocolate?

Chocolate in Ecuador

Two decades after Cortés' conquest of Mexico, his distant cousin, Francisco Pizarro, arrived in South America and proceeded to eventually lead the conquest of the Inca Empire. Unlike the Aztecs and Mayans, the Incas did not cultivate cacao.

How did Aztecs prepare cacao?

The Aztec people imitated the Maya in their respect for cacao and its preparation: after much toil involving grinding and straining, they combined the ground cacao with maize to make a frothy drink, varying from the Maya by adding chiles, peppers, or other spices, and by serving it cold rather than hot.

Did the Mayans invent hot chocolate?

The first chocolate drink is believed to have been created by the Maya around 2,500–3,000 years ago, and a cocoa drink was an essential part of Aztec culture by 1400 AD, by which they referred to as xocōlātl.

What did the Mayans invent?

Two thousand years ago, the ancient Maya developed one of the most advanced civilizations in the Americas. They developed a written language of hieroglyphs and invented the mathematical concept of zero. With their expertise in astronomy and mathematics, the Maya developed a complex and accurate calendar system.