Bernadette Braganza

On reading today’s daily prompt- desire, the thing which I crave the most came to my mind. I almost consider chocolate as my first love and decided to find out the origins of this sweet delight.

Apparently, chocolate wasn’t the sweet desert we think of today. It was invented by the Aztecs some 3100 years ago in Central America. Cacao was used to make a bitter ceremonial drink called xocolatl (from where the name chocolate is derived). Roasted cocoa beans were ground into a paste and then mixed with water, vanilla, chilli pepper and other spices.

After the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs, this drink was brought to Europe where it became a Court favorite. With this, the production of the cocoa plant increased and so did the slave trade to grow these cocoa plants. The move to solidify chocolate started with the invention of the cocoa press machine by  Coenraad Johannes van Houten in 1828. Ever since, improvements in chocolate with respect to taste, texture, etc. has resulted in what it is today.

Which is your favorite chocolate?