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Chocolate History A Brief History of Chocolate Few products share as rich a history as chocolate. More than 2000 years ago, the Mayan Indians of Mexico and Central America created a beverage with ground cocoa beans. Cocoa beans also served as a form of money and were only consumed as they wore out. The Spanish explorer Hernan Cortes brought chocolate from the Aztecs, in the form of cocoa beans, to King Charles V in 1528. It's formula was kept a secret to be enjoyed by nobility. Eventually the secret was revealed and the drinks fame spread. My mid-century, Spaniards were hooked on hot chocolate, mixed with honey and spices, or orange blossom water. As the Spanish royalty intermarried with other European Royalty, cocoa was given as a dowry. By the mid 1600's, the chocolate drink gained widespread popularity in France. One enterprising Frenchman opened the first hot chocolate shop in London. By the 1700's chocolate houses were as prominent as coffee houses in England. Chocolate had reached most of the middle class throughout Europe and America, by the 19th century. Expanded sea trade and colonial plantations made raw cocoa an available commodity and chocolate became an affordable luxury. Confectioners developed methods to make solid eating chocolate from chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, sugar and flavourings. Thus the chocolate industry was born. Modern manufacturing methods enable retailers to sell chocolate to everyone. Benefits of Luxury Belgian Chocolate A luxury chocolate should do the job you'd expect - it should look and taste luxurious! There are other reasons for opting for luxury chocolate. It is actually healthier for you than regular chocolate. Most brand name chocolate is made up of less than 20% chocolate solids, and is bulked out by extra fat and sugar. Because of the limited pure chocolate content, you will have to eat more of it to satisfy your chocolate craving. With high quality, luxury chocolate however, your craving will be satisfied much more quickly, and you will have consumed far less sugar and fat along the way. Chocolate has exceptional nutritional qualities, being a high-energy food in a small volume. It not only contains carbohydrates, fats, and vegetable proteins, but also has large quantities of potassium and magnesium, some calcium and sodium, and vitamins A1, B1, B2, D, and E.
A more detailed history of chocolate is available on our download page. See our 'Trivia Page' for some interesting quotes, facts and trivia on chocolate. See our 'Glossary' for help on chocolate terminology.
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