History of Chocolate

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1. Mesoamerica
   1. Played a part in religious and social lives
      1. Special role in royal and religious events for BOTH Maya and Aztec
         1. Priests presented cacao seeds as offerings to the gods
         2. Chocolate drinks served during sacred ceremonies
   2. Drank chocolate as a bitter beverage
   3. First known discovery of cacao by Classic Period Maya (250-900 A.D.)
      1. Took tree from rain forest to grow in their backyards
      2. Harvested, roasted, and ground the seeds into a paste
         2. Mixed paste with water, chili peppers, & cornmeal to make into frothy spicy chocolate drink
   4. By 1400 Aztecs were trading with Maya for cacao
      1. Cacao seeds were a form of Aztec money $$$$$$$$$$
      2. The bitter chocolate drink was a favored beverage for royalty
2. Modern Times
   1. Thought of as Sweet Candy