History of Cocoa drinks

History of Cocoa drinks
Cocoa trees were believed to have been around since between 400 B and 1500 BC in the Amazon basin, Central America.

In AD250 to AD 900, Mayan society especially elite group already consumed an unsweetened cocoa drink which was made from ground beans. Mayan really loves the drinks.

The drinks later become popular among Aztec in 14th century. They spiced the drinks and enjoyed for its energy and sexual enhancing powers. They also reserved cocoa consumption only for warriors and nobility. Aztec also used coca as a currency.

Cocoa drinks were frequently prepared from dried and roasted cocoa beans which had been grounded into thick and coarse paste on a grinding stone. The paste was flavored with various herbs ands spices, such as flower petals, seeds, vanilla, chilies, honey, and corn flour to produce certain qualities. The drinks can be easily prepared just by dissolving solidified paste into hot or cold water.

In year of 1544, Mayan tribes introduce cocoa beans and drinks to Spanish explorer. This was the first discovery by European about the chocolate drinks. The drink was served hot, sweetened and without chili pepper.

However, the drinks only introduced to European community only after century later. It became a trend in London in the 1700s; English will added milk to the chocolate and served after dinner.

In 1828, Dutch chemist invented the way forward by extracting the butterfat (cocoa butter) from the bean therefore making the drink smooth and tastier.
History of Cocoa drinks