What do you know about this beneficial and sweet delicacy that is also healthy?

The official history mentions that all happened approximately 4,000 years ago when the cacao plant was discovered by the Olmec people of Southern Mexico. Recent genomic research on the cacao tree shows that its greatest genetic diversity occurs 5,300 years ago in the humid forests of the upper Amazon tributaries region, suggesting that its earliest use and initial domestication originated there.

However, they didn't have yet the chocolate candies we know today. Instead, they took the beans out of cacao pods and roasted them, grounded them up, and mixed them into a paste with spices to drink as a warm beverage.

While this may sound a lot like the present-day hot chocolate drink we know and love, there were no additives like sugar, caking agents, or powdered milk. Instead, the drink was very bitter and arguably not even enjoyable.

So why did they choose to consume this bitter and astringent drink? According to the Olmec people, cacao was the food of the gods. It was celebrated for its medicinal qualities and reserved for the people of higher social status, such as rulers, priests, and warriors.

Join the class to go through the history of chocolate starting at Olmec, Mayan and Aztec people, travelling by the Spanish explorers boats to Europe, passing by John Cadbury in 1875 who sold the first box of chocolate candies, up to today.

Come in for an educational fun journey to discover couple of interesting, healthy and delicious facts about this beneficial and sweet delicacy, while being aware of the issues with chocolate consumption!