Chocolate history

As early as 3,000 Years Ago. The first mentions of cocoa can be found as early as 3,000 years ago. The cacao tree comes from the South and Middle American forests. The Mayas, who practiced a number of rituals related to the cacao tree, were supposedly the first ones to cook a bitter liquid from cocoa beans.

Chocalatl. Chocolatl was created from dried, stone-crushed cocoa beans, mixed with honey, vanilla and other spices. The thick cocoa drink was far from tasty, but it was very precious, and only chosen people were allowed to drink it. Cocoa beans themselves were very expensive and served also as a means of payment. In the mid-17th century, for example, one kilogram of cocoa beans cost up to three quarters of a kg of gold.

Cocoa Conquered Europe. Cocoa came to Europe through overseas discoveries. In the middle of the 16th century, sugar was added to cocoa, and before long the drink spread to all aristocratic residences in Europe.  

The Birth of Chocolate. The first chocolate factory was founded by the van Houten company in Holland in 1815. The first chocolate bar was produced in England in 1847, but at the beginning, it was only available as a medicine in pharmacies. After evaporated milk was invented in Switzerland in 1867, the currently most popular type of chocolate was developed - milk chocolate was born.