THE HISTORY OF

CHOCOLATE
 Reviewed By: Sabrina Felson, MD

Reviewed on 2/8/2020

CHOCOLATE IS TODAY'S HEALTHY TREAT

Chocolate. There are few foods that evoke as much passion as

this decadent treat. Folklore from many cultures claimed that
consuming chocolate instilled faith, health, strength, and sexual
passion. Once an indulgence of royalty, it is now a treasured and
accessible – and yes, even healthy – treat. So where did our
infatuation with chocolate begin?
 WHERE DOES CHOCOLATE COME FROM?

The cacao tree, whose pods contain seeds that can be processed
into chocolate, was discovered 2,000 years ago in the tropical
rainforests of the Americas. The first people known to have
consumed cacao were the Classic Period Maya (250-900 A.D.).
They mixed ground cacao (cocoa) seeds with seasonings to
make a bitter, spicy drink that was believed to be a health elixir.
 WHAT WAS CHOCOLATE'S GREAT ALLURE?

To the Mayans, cocoa pods symbolized life and fertility. The pod
was often represented in religious rituals, including marriage
ceremonies, and was referred to as food of the gods. In central
Mexico, the Aztecs believed that wisdom and power came from
eating the fruit of the cocoa tree, and that it had nourishing,
fortifying, and even aphrodisiac qualities.
 EUROPEANS ARE CHARMED BY CHOCOLATE

Europeans got their first taste of chocolate in 1519, when

Montezuma offered the spicy drink to Spanish explorer Cortés
and his army. The Spanish conquistadors brought cocoa seeds
back to Spain, where they introduced new spices and sugar to the
liquid concoction. The fad drink spread throughout Europe, where
it remained a beverage of the elite for centuries.
 CHOCOLATE'S SEDUCTIVE REPUTATION

Chocolate’s reputation as an aphrodisiac flourished in the

French royal court. Erotic art and literature were inspired
by the seductive substance. Casanova, the infamous
womanizer, made a habit of drinking chocolate before his
romantic escapades. Even today, romantic lore commonly
identifies chocolate as an aphrodisiac.
 CHOCOLATE GOES GLOBAL

The first machine-made chocolate was produced in Barcelona in

1780, paving the way for the mass production of chocolate. Later,
mechanical inventions made it possible to produce smooth,
creamy, solid chocolate for eating -- not just the liquid for drinking.
The first solid chocolate bar was developed by British chocolate
maker Fry & Sons in the early 1800s.
 CHOCOLATE GIFTS ON VALENTINE'S DAY

"It's believed that during the 17th century, lovers began

exchanging mementos on Valentine's Day – sweet treats were
one of them. In 1868, the first Valentine's Day box of chocolates
was introduced [by Richard Cadbury]," says Susan L. Fussell,
senior director of communications for the National Confectioners
Association.
 THREE CHEERS FOR CHOCOLATE!

In 1875, the first milk chocolate was introduced to the market by

Daniel Peter of Switzerland. Chocolate became so popular
around the world that even during World War II the U.S.
government shipped cocoa beans to the troops. Today, the U.S.
Army includes chocolate bars in their rations. Chocolate has even
been taken into space as part of the diet of U.S. astronauts.
 IS CHOCOLATE REALLY AN APHRODISIAC?

Not really, even though throughout its history, chocolate has been
purported as one. Chocolate contains small amounts of a
chemical called phenylethylamine (PEA), a.k.a. the "love drug,"
and it's been linked to the regulation of physical energy, mood,
and attention. A tiny amount of PEA is released at moments of
emotional euphoria, elevating blood pressure and heart rate.
There is no evidence that PEA found in foods increases PEA in
the brain – although many chocolate lovers may beg to differ!
 CHOCOLATE MAKES HEALTH HEADLINES

Dark chocolate (as opposed to milk or white chocolate) contains

healthful flavonoids similar to those found in tea, red wine, fruits,
and vegetables. One small study suggests that dark chocolate
can improve blood vessel flow and may improve blood sugar and
insulin sensitivity to help reduce the risk of diabetes. But beware,
chocolate candy has plenty of saturated fat and sugar, so only
enjoy small portions of it as part of a healthy diet.