In my opinion, everyone involved in the early evolution of cacao plant into an edible substance we call chocolate should receive a "get into heaven free" card regardless of their religious beliefs!

While there is no one particular person who invented chocolate, most experts believe the ancient Maya discovered the delicious secrets of chocolate between 250-900 A.D.

They learned how to harvest cacao (the fruit/pod of the Cacao tree), then ferment, roast, and grind the seeds found within.  The Maya used liquid chocolate in their religious and social lives.  The seeds (cocoa beans) were considered to be very valuable and were often used as currency.

Ancient chocolate was very different from the chocolate we know today.  The ground cacao seeds were mixed with water, chili peppers, cornmeal, and spices to form a paste.  Then they used the paste to make a frothy, spicy chocolate drink.  The drink was unsweetened.

Chocolate was first brought to Europe by Christopher Columbus and Hernan Cortez.

Christopher Columbus is believed to be the first to bring cacao seeds to Europe when he returned from his fourth voyage to the new world (landed on the island of Guanaja off the coast of Honduras) in 1502.

In 1519 Cortéz reached Mexico City and was received by Montezuma, the Aztec emperor.  Cortéz recognized the value of the cacao bean, he drank the chocolate, and learned its formula.

When he returned to Spain he presented the beans as a gift to King Charles V. He also brought back the knowledge of how to make the chocolate beverage. Later, monasteries were designated as storehouses of the beans, and monks were charged with making the chocolate drink.

It is believed that the Aztecs drank their chocolate cold.  In Spain in the 1500’s, purveyors of the drink served it hot.

Around 1830, a solid form of chocolate was developed by a British chocolate maker named Joseph Fry.  He called it “eating chocolate.”  In 1847, the Fry's chocolate factory molded the first ever chocolate bar that was suitable for widespread consumption. 

Thus it was the Fry family who first brought chocolate to the masses in a form most recognizable today (though having had today's chocolates you probably wouldn't like their earlier version).  Others have since refined their processes and formulas to give us the variety of wonderful options we have now.

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Bryn Kirk

Course Facilitator at Chocolate University Online

Bryn worked for nearly 10 years in a research and product development for Ambrosia Chocolate Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Now she develops all of the CUO lessons and coaches the members of the Primal Chocolate Club.

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