A Brief History of Chocolate

Chocolate is considered one of the most popular sweets in the world.

Here are some interesting facts, from it’s beginnings to today:

The word “chocolate” comes from a Nahuatl(Aztec language) word chocolātl
The history of chocolate began in Mesoamerica around 1900BC as a fermented beverage
The Aztecs believed that cacao seeds were the gift of the god of wisdom, and the seeds once had so much value they were used as currency.
Originally prepared only as a drink, chocolate was served as a bitter, frothy liquid, mixed with spices or corn puree, believed to have aphrodisiac powers.
Today, such drinks are made by locals in the South of Mexico known as “Chilate”.
After its arrival to Europe in the 16th century, sugar was added to it and it became popular throughout society of all classes.

The confectioner Chocolaterie Lombart, created in 1760, claims to be the first chocolate company in France
In 1815, Dutch added salts to chocolate, reducing its bitterness. By 1828, a press to was created remove about half the natural fat (cacao butter) from chocolate liquor, which made chocolate much cheaper to produce, allowing for mass production.
In 1875 Daniel Peter invented ‘milk chocolate’ by mixing in powdered milk then further perfected by Henri Nestlé.
‘Boxed Chocolates’ were first introduced in England by 1868 by Cadbury
In 1893, Milton S. Hershey purchased chocolate processing equipment at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago and soon began the career of Hershey’s chocolates with chocolate-coated caramels.
Hershey first bars were sold as a ‘meat substitute’
By 1900 Chocolates in many forms were to be found in store around the world. Mostly milk chocolate for it was sweeter and not as bitter as bittersweet chocolates.
Currently two-thirds of the world’s cocoa is produced in Western Africa. Many claim that over 20% of African workers live in slave-like conditions.

Original Hershey Chocolate Bar