Once europeans created a demand for chocolate, plantations starting popping up throughout south america. Following in the footsteps of spain, the other european countries discovered chocolate during the 17 th century and became totally fascinated by this completely new drink. From the cacao bean used by the ancient olmecs in mesoamerica to the mass production of chocolate bars by. Mar 10, 2017 one reason to explore that history launched this week when chocolatier jacques torres opened a museum dedicated to the history of chocolate at his store in manhattans soho neighborhood. The valentines day tradition of giving a box of candy was started in the 19th century by richard cadbury, a scion of a british chocolate manufacturing family. This special onlineonly edition of exploring takes a closer look at the sweet lure of chocolate. When the aztec empire ruled most of mesoamerica, chocolate was still widely consumed, and cacao seeds were a. They lived in the area around bc, and their word, kakawa, gave us our word cacao. History of chocolate general knowledge for kids mocomi. A lethal dose of chocolate for a human being is about 10 kilograms 22 lbs.
It can be a solid form like a candy bar or it can be in a liquid form like hot chocolate. The word chocolate is derived from the mayan word xocolatl, or bitter. The average serving of milk chocolate has about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of decaf coffee. Six fun facts about chocolate that you probably never knew. Hershey company, also known as 18941927 hershey chocolate co. The first people to use chocolate were probably the olmec of what is today southeast mexico.
Many people arent aware of were their beloved chocolate actually comes from. In fact, in latin, cacao trees are called theobroma cacao, or food of the gods. If you cant imagine life without chocolate, youre lucky. Well examine the fascinating and often misreported history of chocolate, follow the chocolatemaking process, and take an online visit to a chocolate factory. Mar 28, 2018 chocolate s history goes back at least 2,000 years, while historians sophie and michael coe, authors of the true history of chocolate thames and hudson, 20, suggest that it might go back. History of chocolate chip cookies facts about chocolate. First, the beans were harvested, fermented, and dried. The word chocolate is derived from the mayan word chocol, meaning a hot drink. Some know that it comes from cacao, but even fewer know where cacao is grown, and especially how it grows and how the beans are harvested. The aztecs and mayans used chocolates as money to buy things. Click to read more chocolate facts or download the worksheet collection. Dark chocolate may improve blood flow and lower blood pressure. Theobromine, the compound in chocolate that makes it poisonous to dogs, can kill a human as well.
In 1930, dietician ruth graves wakefield 19051977 and her husband, kenneth, purchased a capecod style house halfway between boston and new bedford, massachusetts, just outside the town of whitman. Head on over to the history of chocolate page for a complete timeline of facts involving chocolate. Except for that, the way the maya prepared chocolate wasnt too much different from the way its prepared today. History of chocolate chocolate history timeline the. Here are some really interesting facts about chocolate for kids. Its been eaten by people for centuries, its loved by almost everyone who tastes it, and its scientific name literally. There is a large variety of chocolate bars with very high cocoa percentages available today. Feb 14, 2020 the valentines day tradition of giving a box of candy was started in the 19th century by richard cadbury, a scion of a british chocolate manufacturing family. The earliest evidence of use traces to the olmecs modern day mexico, with evidence of chocolate beverages dating to 1900 bc. Fermented beverages made from chocolate date back to 450 bc. The word chocolate may conjure up images of sweet candy bars and luscious.
The first milk chocolate had been manufactured, and many new recipes from master chocolatiers had been shared and were fully underway in the factory. Chocolate history doesnt include solid chocolate until the 1850s. Chocolate drinks became the most preferred beverage after tea and coffee in the entire world. For example, one vessel found at an olmec archaeological site on the gulf coast of veracruz, mexico, dates chocolates preparation by preolmec peoples as early as 1750 bc. The history of chocolate can be traced to the ancient mayans, and even earlier to the ancient olmecs of southern mexico. Dark chocolate may also improve the function of the brain. Chocolate in the colonies dates back at least to the winter of 16671668, writes james f. White chocolate is not actually chocolate but it contains parts of cocoa beans like cocoa butter. Chocolate science, history and fun facts part 2 msu. Hershey company, american manufacturer of food products, chiefly chocolate and sugarbased confections. Cacao has been around for thousands of years and is probably one of the oldest of natures foods. Chocolate may be the food of the gods, but for most of its 4,000year history, it was actually consumed as a bitter beverage rather than as a sweet edible treat. Chocolate s history goes back at least 2,000 years, while historians sophie and michael coe, authors of the true history of chocolate thames and hudson, 20, suggest that it might go back.
The first people to use chocolate were probably the olmec of what is today southeast. The new trend is to eat chocolate bars with 7090 percent cocoa. Chocolate science, history and fun facts part 1 msu extension. Chocolate was more expensive than tea or coffee and remained a luxury product for a long time. Aug 22, 2018 firstly, the invention of hydraulic and steam chocolate mills in france in the 18 th century allowed chocolate to be processed faster and at a lower cost. On the pacific coast of chiapas, mexico, a mokaya archaeological site provides evidence of cacao beverages dating even earlier, to 1900 bc. Feb 12, 2014 today, guatemala produces 10,414 tons of chocolate, with 9,172 cacao farms over 3,920 hectares of land. Dark chocolate is a powerful source of antioxidants.
In fact, chocolate was consumed as a liquid, not a solid, for 90% of its history. The aristocracy and the clergy were swept off their feet by an absolute chocomania. Chocolate and the cacao its made from has a long history of use, enjoyment and abuse by humans. Originally prepared only as a drink, chocolate was served as a bitter liquid, mixed with spices or corn puree. Plantations meant slave labor many workers were african slaves. Today, guatemala produces 10,414 tons of chocolate, with 9,172 cacao farms over 3,920 hectares of land. Sep, 2017 chocolate in the colonies dates back at least to the winter of 16671668, writes james f.
A 2004 london study found that 70% of people would give their passwords for a chocolate bar. However, there are many fascinating facts about the world of chocolate that most do not know. One reason to explore that history launched this week when chocolatier jacques torres opened a museum dedicated to the history of chocolate at. Cocoa generally refers to chocolate in a powdered form, although it can also. Therefore, usage and cultivation of the trees were very widespread. But for about 90 percent of chocolates long history, it was strictly a beverage, and sugar didnt have anything to do with it. The aztec kings drank more than tens of cups of hot chocolate in a day. A history of chocolate in 10 quick facts its been eaten by people for centuries, its loved by almost everyone who tastes it, and its scientific name literally means food of the gods. In the film psycho, alfred hitchcock used bosco chocolate syrup for blood in the famous shower scene.
But for about 90 percent of chocolate s long history, it was strictly a beverage, and sugar didnt have anything to do with it. For a few facts or bits of history trivia that may or may not have been listed on the history page, read on. Chocolate has been prepared as a drink for nearly all of its history. And chocolate itself and how it was first cultivated in central america as a bitter drink and then brought over to europe and gradually developed into a chocolate bar for eating, has a fascinating history all of its own. The smell of chocolate increases theta brain waves, which triggers relaxation chocolate has over 600 flavor compounds, while red wine has 200 it takes approximately 400 cacao beans to make one pound 450 gr. Maya called the cocoa tree cacahuaquchtl tree, and the word chocolate comes from the maya word xocoatl which means. Chocolate milk is an effective postworkout recovery drink.
Chocolate, derived from the seed of the cocoa tree, was used by the maya culture, as early as the sixth century ad. The history of chocolate coco facts cacao tree bean food. Research to date supports that chocolate can be enjoyed as part of a balanced, hearthealthy diet and lifestyle. Cacao pronounced kakow trees grow in the rainforest and the pods grow directly on the trunks of cacao tree. Get a taste for this caribbean country with these interesting facts about. Below are ten interesting facts about chocolate, some of these facts are bizarre, some are saddening and others are just downright silly. The first milk chocolate had been manufactured, and many new recipes from master chocolatiers had been shared and were fully underway in the factory almost 3,000 new members of staff were employed in order to run the factory and help with the production of. The history of chocolate chip cookies, to me, is far more important than who invaded whom and when. Early central americans and mexicans used the seeds from the cacao tree to make a drink that tasted bitter, not sweet.
The history of chocolate deanna pucciarelli youtube. July 7 is chocolate day and it indicates the day when chocolate was first brought to europe. Chocolates history goes back at least 2,000 years, while historians sophie and michael coe, authors of the true history of chocolate thames and hudson, 20, suggest that. Chocolate history starts out in latin america, where cacao trees grow wild. The scientific name for the tree that chocolate comes from, theobroma cacao, means food of the gods. Hersheys milk chocolate, with its brownandsilver wrapper, was perhaps the bestknown american candy bar of the 20th century.
White chocolate isnt actually chocolate, because it doesnt contain cocoa. Chocolate is native to central and south america as well as mexico. Here are some of the key dates in the history of chocolate timeline. The meltinthemouth chocolate from rodolphe lindt has remained a symbol not only for worldrenowned swiss chocolate but also for the. People around the world but mostly in europe and the united states consume more than 3 million tons of cocoa beans a year, according to the. From the cacao bean used by the ancient olmecs in mesoamerica to the mass production of chocolate bars by modern companies like hershey, learn how we. Apr 16, 2011 the history of chocolate has come a long way. To start this brief serious of articles about chocolate, michigan state university extension will look at its fascinating history and science of this incredible confection called chocolate. Chocolate has traditionally been associated with magical, medicinal, and mythical properties. Darker chocolates can have as much caffeine as a can of cocacola. Fourteen fun facts about love and sex in the animal kingdom. Belize has been called the cradle of chocolate, with a cocoaloving history that stretches back thousands of years. It was so valued that it was used as a source of currency and even as a sacrifice to the gods. For almost 150 years, chocolate manufacturers in switzerland and the rest of the world have been trying to discover the secret behind the family recipe.
The beans were then roasted and the shells removed, and the rest was ground into a paste. The inventor of the chocolate chip cookie sold the idea to nestle toll. Chocolate was once considered more valuable than gold dust. Hersheys milk chocolate, in its brownandsilver wrapper, was perhaps the bestknown american candy. The bitter, hot drink was called xacoatl by the aztecs. Then, in 1828, the cocoa press was invented by coenraad johannes van houton. The cacao tree was first found to be useful for its seeds about two thousand years ago. Apr 08, 2019 belize has been called the cradle of chocolate, with a cocoaloving history that stretches back thousands of years. But for about 90 percent of chocolates long history, it was strictly a beverage. Chocolate is a food made from the seeds of a cacao tree. History of chocolate timeline year by year chocolate facts. By 1899, cadbury had become a limited company and was focusing solely on the production of chocolate rather than tea and coffee.
Cocoa, from which chocolate is created, is said to have originated in the amazon at least 4,000 years ago. The aztecs believed that cacao seeds were the gift of quetzalcoatl, the god of wisdom, and the seeds once had so much value that they were used as a form of currency. Chocolate science, history and fun facts part 1 msu. Soon, other european countries also started developing their own cacao industry. It is used in many desserts like pudding, cakes, candy, and ice cream. A 2004 london study found that 70% of people would give their passwords for a. Well examine the fascinating and often misreported history of chocolate, follow the chocolate making process, and take an online visit to a chocolate factory. Dec 23, 2015 chocolate science, history and fun facts part 1 chocolate is a fascinating plant and a fascinating food. Apr 01, 2019 learn about the amazing history of chocolate.
A brief history of chocolate in the united states smart. First developed by the mayans 3,000 years ago in what is now mexico, chocolate was initially consumed as a bitter, highly spiced drink. It all started with the olmecs around 1500bc, who began to cultivate cacao, the elites began to consume it as a drink in ceremonies, and generally revere the sacred plant. I learn more about this at antiguas chocomuseo, where chocolatemaker pablo offers me free samples of milk chocolate, 70% dark chocolate and 80% dark chocolate while also enlightening me on the history and process of the sweet. The chocolate river in willy wonka and the chocolate factory was made by adding chocolate cream mix to 150,000 us gallons of water, which eventually turned rancid and created a foul odor that permeated the entire soundstage. Chocolate for kids history, benefits, and fun facts. History, culture, and heritage, in the diary of massachusetts bays mintmaster.
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