2,000 years ago in the tropical rainforests of the Americas the cacao (kah KOW) tree was discovered. 

From that one discovery, came the delicious and heavenly food chocolate -

So lets go back through the Mists of time…………..

It is believed that the first cultures known to have made chocolate were the ancient peoples of Mexico and Central America, including the Aztecs and Mayans. 

History says the Mayans and their ancestors in Mesoamerica took the tree from the rainforest and grew it in their own backyards, where they harvested, fermented, roasted, and ground the seeds into a paste. It was then mixed with water, chili peppers, cornmeal, and other ingredients, which in turn was made into a frothy, spicy chocolate drink.

So what about the Aztecs? The Aztec empire dominated a sizeable segment of Mesoamerica by 1400 and started trading with Mayans and other peoples for cacao plus they often required that citizens and conquered peoples pay their tributes to them in cacao seeds—which became a form of Aztec money.

Like the earlier Mayans the Aztecs also consumed their bitter chocolate drink seasoned with spices, as sugar was not available in Mesoamerica at that time.

Drinking Spicy bitter sweet chocolate became an important part of Maya and Aztec life, especially for royalty, however, in Aztec society, primarily rulers, priests, and honored people could partake of this sacred brew.

Chocolate also played a special role in both Maya and Aztec royal and religious events. Priests presented cacao seeds as offerings to the gods and served chocolate drinks during sacred ceremonies.

It is reported that Later, the Spanish conquistadors decided to bring the seeds back to Spain, where new recipes including adding sugar were eventually created.

After some time the Chocolate drink popularity spread throughout Europe. A very expensive import, chocolate remained an “Upper Class” beverage and a status symbol for Europe’s upper classes for the next 200 to 300 years.

But time marched on and people experimented and by the end of the 18th century, the first form of solid chocolate was invented. The first Swiss chocolate factory was opened in 1819 by F L Cailler.  Plus It is believed that the Englishman Mr. Joseph Fry made the first chocolate for eating in1847. Then this was  followed in 1849 by the Cadbury brothers.

Since then, new technologies and innovations have continued to change the texture and taste of chocolate, but as chocolate lovers all over the world can attest, it is still the WORLDS FAVOURITE TASTE SENSATION!    ESPECIALLY WONDERFUL  HAND MADE CHOCOLATES MADE WITH FINE INGREDIENTS AND LOTS OF LOVE!