The Mayan tribe called chocolate “xocoatl”. This is probably where the modern name came from. The Maya used the grains as money.
According to the famous Cortes, one glass of cocoa was enough to quench the thirst of a soldier for a whole day. Already the Indians had learned to make the first chocolate.
The Toltecs, conquered by the Aztecs in 1325, had known chocolate for at least 1000 years.
The famous Swedish naturalist Carl von Linné introduced Europe to a tree called “Theobroma cacao”, which means Drink of the Gods.
The Spanish and Portuguese were the first Europeans to discover chocolate, and for a whole century they were the monopolists in its production and use. In XVII century chocolate appeared at the court of Louis XIV, court ladies drank it during receptions. Richelieu and many famous French aristocrats loved chocolate. It was from French palaces and castles that chocolate began its triumphant spread around the world.
The history of chocolate is no less entertaining than the taste sensations of sampling chocolate in factories and in the famous Paris chocolate cafes, famous for their history, their recipes, chocolate fountains…
The history of Paris and France is intricately intertwined with the history of chocolate. Both are exquisite and appetizing!
