Chocolate is a treat that is enjoyed by millions of people all over the world, but it has not always been the sweet luxury we know today. Rich in history, chocolate actually has roots in the ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica. For the Mayans and the Aztecs, chocolate was consumed as a bitter liquid than the solid bar we are familiar with now.
The drink, which was made from roasted cacao beans, hot water, and spices, was often used in religious ceremonies. cacao beans were highly valued, they were also used as a form of currency. In fact, Aztec emperors are said to consumed vast quantities of the drink on a daily basis.
It was not Spanish explorers arrived in the Americas that chocolate made its way to Europe. Initially, Spanish nobility kept the drink a secret, but eventually spread to other European courts. Over time, sugar was added to tone the bitterness, making the drink much more appealing to the European palate. However, it was not until the nineteenth century the English company Fry & Sons produced the first solid eating chocolate, paving the way for the modern confectionery industry.