Who Invented Chocolate?

The Olmec Indians are believed to be the first to grow cocoa beans as a domestic crop somewhere between 1500 BC and 400 BC. Later on the consumption of cocoa beans was restricted to the elite of Mayan society in the liquid form.

As Mayan's migrate into the northern regions of South America around 600 AD, they established cocoa plantations in the Yucatan. By the 14th Century this liquid libation become popular among the upper classes of Aztec society. They were the first to tax the beans than made this drink called "xocalatl" meaning warm or bitter liquid.

Early Spanish explores to the area discovered the bean drink and in the 16th Century brought it to Europe. They began to add cane sugar and flavorings such as vanilla to their sweet cocoa beverages and by 1570 AD the cocoa was used as a popular medicine and aphrodisiac.

A century later the English introduced a solid chocolate in the form of chocolate rolls and cakes, served in chocolate emporiums.

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