The Sweet History of Chocolate

Chocolate, a popular Valentine’s Day gift, has come a long way from its origins as a sacred bitter hot drink for royalty and the elite thousands of years ago.

Chocolate comes from the seeds - often referred to as beans - of the cacao (pronounced ka-Kow) tree (Theobroma cacao) which grows in rainforests near the equator.  These trees can live over 200 years, but only produce cocoa beans for about 25 of those years. Each tree produces about 40 pods. Inside the cacao pods are seeds called cocoa beans, the magical ingredient in chocolate.  A single cacao tree produces about 2,500 beans in its lifetime.

The white and pink flowers of the cacao trees are pollinated by tiny gnats. It takes about 5 months for the pods to grow and ripen. Once harvested, the cacao beans are fermented for several days to develop the distinctive chocolate flavor.

Cacao trees originated in Mesoamerica in the territories of the Aztec, Olmec, and Mayan civilizations. The Mayans and Aztecs were the first to plant cacao and be the first cocoa farmers. The Maya’s considered chocolate the “food of the gods.” In ancient Aztec and Mayan societies, cocoa beans were ground with pepper or other spices, and steeped in water to make a bitter spicy drink that only royalty and elite members of society enjoyed. The beans were considered so valuable they were used for money, special gifts, and offerings to the gods. In ancient Mayan civilizations, humans were often sacrificed to guarantee a good cacao harvest.

In 1528 cocoa beans were introduced to Spain and quickly became a popular ingredient in beverages consumed by the elite. This time the bitter drink was sweetened with sugar, cinnamon, and honey.  By the 18th century, the availability of sugar and improvements in processing made chocolate more accessible, and no longer just for royalty or the elite. It wasn’t until 1847 that the first solid chocolate bar was introduced. Today chocolate is a global industry and comes in countless forms, infused with flavors, and used in baking, beverages, sauces and savory dishes.

Chocolate is one of the oldest natural foods. It is also highly porous and will absorb surrounding scents. Chocolate is a mood booster. However, chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats - a small amount can cause serious harm - so it’s important to keep it out of the reach of pets.

One final fun fact: the first heart shaped Valentine’s Day box was designed and decorated by Richard Cadbury, a British chocolate maker in 1861. It was to hold “eating chocolate” and once the chocolate was gone the decorative boxes were often used for holding love letters and other keepsakes.

Happy Valentines Day!

Chris Jacobs

Certified Master Gardener