| Did you know chocolate was originated in Central | | | | beans. It was a luxury drink enjoyed by kings and |
| America? That it used to be a treat only to the rich? | | | | noblemen. Thankfully we can all enjoy chocolate now! |
| Chocolate has a fascinating history! | | | | Christopher Columbus, in 1502, reached the island of |
| The Olmecs occupied a small area south of Veracruz | | | | Guanaja off the coast of Honduras. As legend goes |
| and were the first cultivators of the cacao pod. The | | | | he was greeted by natives that gave him a sackful |
| Mayans were next, just south of present day | | | | of cacao beans in exchange for some of his own |
| Mexico, to elevate chocolate to status of the Gods. | | | | merchandise. When Cortes arrived seventeen years |
| They named the cacao tree Cacahuaquchtl (tree) as | | | | later the cacao beans were being used as food and a |
| they were concerned no other tree was worth | | | | form of currency. It was reported that a slave could |
| naming. They believed the tree belonged to the gods | | | | be bought for one hundred cacao beans. At the time, |
| and that the pods growing from the tree were an | | | | two hundred small cacao beans were worth one |
| offering from the gods to man. They Mayans were | | | | Spanish real. |
| the originators of a bitter brew made from cacao | | | | |