The history of chocolate can be traced to the ancient Mayans , and even earlier to the ancient Olmecs of southern Mexico. The word chocolate may conjure up images of sweet candy bars and luscious truffles, but the chocolate of today is little like the chocolate of the past.
When did the Aztecs make chocolate?
The Aztecs learned about the value of cacao beans
Did the Aztecs have chocolate?
The Aztecs took chocolate admiration to another level. ... Like the Mayans, they enjoyed the caffeinated kick of hot or cold, spiced chocolate beverages in ornate containers, but they also used cacao beans
What did Aztecs add to chocolate?
The Aztecs took chocolate admiration to another level. They believed cacao was given to them by their gods. Like the Mayans, they enjoyed the caffeinated kick of hot or cold, spiced chocolate beverages in ornate containers, but they also used cacao beans
Did the Incas have chocolate?
Unlike the Aztecs and Mayans, the Incas did not cultivate cacao . ... Plantations were either abandoned altogether or replaced cacao with greater revenue producing crops. Banana production gradually replaced cacao as the primary export by 1947.
Who is the god of chocolate?
IXCACAO : MAYAN GODDESS OF CHOCOLATE. The story of the Goddess of Chocolate is a long and complicated one. She was worshipped as a fertility goddess, with different names and different roles in the ancient cultures of Mesoamerica.
What drinks did the Mayans drink?
Mayans worshipped xocolatl (or bitter water) made with crushed cocoa, cornmeal and chilli pepper. Their drinking chocolate cup of choice? Large vessels with spouts, coveted, yet not so practical. To create a foam they would pour liquid back and forth between bowls from a height – like ancient baristas.
Did Aztecs smoke chocolate?
Aztec use. ... 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.
Who is the Aztec god of death?
Mictlantecuhtli
Where is 70% of the world’s chocolate grown?
About 70 percent of the world’s cocoa beans come from four West African countries: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon . The Ivory Coast and Ghana are by far the two largest producers of cocoa, accounting for more than 50 percent of the world ́s cocoa.
What were the Aztecs known for?
The Aztecs were famous for their agriculture, land, art, and architecture . They developed writing skills, a calendar system and also built temples and places of worship. They were also known for being fierce and unforgiving. To please their gods they sacrificed humans!
What was the name of the place where chocolate was discovered?
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.
Who first ate chocolate?
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 is the Mayan god of love?
Ixchel (pronounced Ishchel) was the Maya goddess of the moon, of love, of gestation, of medicine, and of the textile arts. She was the wife of the sun god Ak Kin, and was often represented accompanied by a rabbit; in hieroglyphics her name appears as Chak Chel, meaning “large rainbow”.
Who is the god of food?
Demeter , in Greek religion
