Category: Fun

The first instances of chocolate being consumed go back as far as 4,000 years. Some estimates put this date further back to 5,300 years ago. People native to Mesoamerica harvested chocolate pods from high up in cacao trees growing in the wild. It is thought that the pulp was eaten rather than the seeds. The pulp is sweet, whereas the seeds are incredibly bitter.

The idea of adding milk to chocolate was first noticed by Europeans in the 17th century. Scottish-Irish physician Hans Sloane traveled to Jamaica in 1687 and reported that the locals added milk to their cocoa before drinking it. According to prominent historian James Delbourgo, the Jamaicans had been brewing chocolate in this fashion since 1494.

The earliest record of chocolate being consumed was as a frothy brew. There is no record of the recipes that were used, but it is assumed it was alcoholic in nature. It was used by the Olmecs, who passed on their knowledge of chocolate to the Mayans who came after. The Mayans often drank their chocolate with honey and chili.

Chocolate was so important to the Mayans that they used the beans as currency, and chocolate served as an accompaniment to religious ceremonies, as well as for everyday use where it was consumed with daily meals.

The Latin name for the tree that gives us chocolate is Theobroma cacao, which means “food of the gods.” This ties in with the fact that the Aztecs literally believed that chocolate was a gift from one of their gods, Quetzalcoatl, who, after giving chocolate to humans, was condemned by the other gods for this transgression.

Ground cacao beans were hanging in a cotton bag overnight. By morning, the floor was covered in cocoa butter that had dripped from the bag.

Fiji features a cacao pod and Ghana features a cacao tree.

So a shift was made towards chocolate. The colonies could get cacao beans straight from Central America tax-free.

So a shift was made towards chocolate. The colonies could get cacao beans straight from Central America tax-free.

More than 80 years ago, an employee of DeMet’s Candy Company, said that the company’s original recipe of milk chocolate, caramel, and pecans looked like a turtle. The name stuck!

they would encircle the earth 48 times!

Hard bricks, instead of chewy brownies!

Use chocolate frosting and sprinkle with edible gold leaf!

This may possibly be from Montezuma’s ritual of drinking chocolate from a golden goblet.

Higher quality cocoa powder may not keep as long because it has more fat, which may oxidize.

Compounds in cocoa appear to have an aspirin-like effect, improving circulation and making blood less likely to clot.

“Chokola’j” means “to drink together”.

These parties, called chocolat du roi, were social events to which only the very elite were invited.

A carrot has 96 flavor compounds!

Drizzle some chocolate on a piece of wax paper. Place in front of a fan. If the chocolate starts to set in about three minutes, it is tempered.

“Chocolate and the King are my only passions.”

The seeds, once fermented and dried, are processed into chocolate.

It cost five cents!

The drink was called “xocolatl” which means “warm liquid”.

Fiji features a cacao pod and Ghana features a cacao tree.

Use a pizza cutter to keep brownies looking their best.

Use a pizza cutter to keep brownies looking their best.

Ground cacao beans were hanging in a cotton bag overnight. By morning, the floor was covered in cocoa butter that had dripped from the bag.