XocolatlXocolatlLa historia de chocolateLa historia de chocolate

En Los Estados Unidos, En Los Estados Unidos, cada persona come más cada persona come más de 11 libras de chocolate de 11 libras de chocolate en un año (mucho entre en un año (mucho entre las comidas). Nos las comidas). Nos encanta este producto encanta este producto del árbol cacao. del árbol cacao.

Originalmente de la Originalmente de la parte en el norte de parte en el norte de Suramérica y después, Suramérica y después, México, el conquistador México, el conquistador Cortés les llevó Cortés les llevó “xocolatl” a las personas “xocolatl” a las personas de Europa.de Europa.

The Olmecs were The Olmecs were considered the first to considered the first to cultivate cacao as a cultivate cacao as a crop and use it to make crop and use it to make a spicy drink (not a spicy drink (not sweet!).sweet!).

The Mayas drank The Mayas drank chocolate at every chocolate at every meal. They also traded meal. They also traded the seed with their the seed with their neighbors, the Aztecs, neighbors, the Aztecs, who lived in a climate who lived in a climate too dry to grow cacao.too dry to grow cacao.

The Aztecs used The Aztecs used cacao seeds to pay cacao seeds to pay taxes and to make taxes and to make offerings to their offerings to their gods. Only leaders gods. Only leaders drank xocolatl.drank xocolatl.

Hernán Cortés, after Hernán Cortés, after defeating Montezuma defeating Montezuma and the Aztecs, and the Aztecs, carried chocolate to carried chocolate to Europe. It was not Europe. It was not popular due to its popular due to its bitterness.bitterness.

Eventually sugar, Eventually sugar, cinnamon, and cinnamon, and vanilla were vanilla were added. The drinks added. The drinks became popular. became popular. Spain kept it a Spain kept it a secret for nearly secret for nearly 100 years! 100 years!

Then visitors to Then visitors to Spain began Spain began taking chocolate taking chocolate and cacao seedsand cacao seeds

back to their own back to their own countries countries throughout throughout Europe. As Europe. As demand grew, demand grew, Europeans set up Europeans set up cacao plantations cacao plantations in their colonies in their colonies throughout the throughout the world. world.

In 1847, Joseph In 1847, Joseph Fry made a paste Fry made a paste of cocoa, sugar, of cocoa, sugar, and butter. These and butter. These were pressed into were pressed into a mold. The a mold. The chocolate bar was chocolate bar was born!born!

From the NewFrom the New World tropicsWorld tropics to the entire world…to the entire world…

So, how does So, how does cacao go from the cacao go from the tree to become a tree to become a chocolate bar?chocolate bar?

Video clip- You TubeVideo clip- You Tube Cacao Tree (1:59)Cacao Tree (1:59)

Video clip- You TubeVideo clip- You Tube Farm to Market- Farm to Market-

Chocolate (2:07)Chocolate (2:07)

?? Video clip- ?? Video clip- You TubeYou Tube Cacao Journey- Cacao Journey-

Nicaragua (6:55)Nicaragua (6:55)