The tasty smooth secret of the cacao (kah KOW) tree was discovered 2,000 years ago in the tropical rainforests of the south Americas. Chocolate has since grown from a local Mesoamerican beverage into a global sweet encompassing many cultures and continents.

The first people known to have made chocolate were the ancient cultures of Mexico and Central America. These people, including the Maya and Aztec, mixed ground cacao seeds with various seasonings to make a spicy, frothy drink.

Later, the Spanish conquistadors took the seeds back home to Spain, where new recipes were created. Eventually the drink’s popularity spread throughout Europe. Since then, new technologies and innovations have changed the texture and taste of chocolate, but it still remains one of the world’s favorite flavors.

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