A Brief History of Chocolate

   Have you ever wondered whoever came up with the idea that the cacao beans could be edible? How did it all start? Read on and learn about the humble beginnings of chocolate and a brief chocolate history.

Breakfast Beverage

Origin of the Chocolate

   The name "chocolate" is reckoned to owe its origins to the Classical Nahuatl word xocolātl (meaning "bitter water"), made up from the words "xococ" meaning sour or bitter, and "atl" meaning water or drink and it became part of the English language from Spanish. However, how the word "chocolate" came into Spanish is not certain but the most likely explanation is that "chocolate" comes from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, from the word "chocolatl",

An alternative explanation gives a derivation from the Yucatec Maya word "chokol" meaning hot, and the Nahuatl "atl" meaning water.

Chocolate’s Official Introduction

    In 1615 when Spanish Princess Anna of Austria married the French King Louis XIII she gave him and the rest of France the gift of chocolate. The habit of drinking chocolate quickly took hold in French society and moved its way across the European elite.

The rest of society was introduced to chocolate when a Frenchman opened the first chocolate house in London in 1657. Despite the high price tag, the drink was now available to the general public and anyone could come and enjoy it. As more chocolate establishments opened, chocolate slowly became a beverage as common as coffee or tea.

Demand for chocolate was high in Europe and abroad. In the 17th century, the industrial revolution changed the face of chocolate, as manufacturers began branding and developing technology to transform chocolate from a drink to a treat.

    While the options are plentiful and chocolate seems to be delicious in every shape and form, perhaps it would be fun to explore its roots and indulge in a spicy chocolate beverage, like the Aztecs did.