The History of Chocolate

The beginnings of chocolate take us back to the Maya Civilization in 250-900 A.D. where the Cacao plant was first discovered. These seeds were ground into a paste and used as a bitter beverage. This drink was seen as a sign of royalty. Though the Mayan's are thought to be the first users of chocolate, chocolate spread throughout the territories of El Salvador, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.

The seeds from the plant would be picked, fermented and grinded into a paste. Cacao became a large trade, as money, offerings to the gods, and used in ceremonial purposes.

Until the 1500's, chocolate was still hardly discovered anywhere else, but on a Spanish conquest, the secret was out, though it was still hard to obtain and import, they still managed to get ahold of some. The only use at this point was still for drinking, and only the wealthy Spaniards could afford chocolate. The catholic church used it for energy.

Somehow (we still haven't found the culprit) the secret of chocolate made its way to European Countries where it became expanded and readily available, still as a status symbol. In the 1700's, industrializaion changed chocolate forever, machinery and experimentation turned chocolate into a more widely produced solid candy, which, now, is globally produced by different manufacturers. Today chocolate is in everything from drinks, to cereal, to ice cream. There is no doubt that this sweet little discovery was a good one! To taste this delectable treat, check out our handmade chocolates from Brookside Chocolate Company!