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Knowledge
History of Chocolate For centuries, chocolate has been an intricate part of the history of many countries. Historically, Chocolate has been used as both a type of currency and also as an indulgent drink, a privilege reserved for royalty. Today, chocolate is enjoyed by all in a variety of forms and continues to be an important part of many cultures
The source of chocolate, the seeds of the cacao tree, have figured prominently in many different cultures, first in prehistoric Central America, then in Mayan and Aztec civilization, then around the world, spread by the great colonial powers. The earliest record of chocolate was over fifteen hundred years ago in the Central American rain forests, where the tropical mix of high rain fall combined with high year round temperatures and humidity provide the ideal climate for cultivation of the plant from which chocolate is derived, the Cacao Tree.
History records the first evidence of solid Chocolate in 1847 when Fry & Sons of Bristol, England, mixed Sugar with Cocoa Powder and Cocoa Butter (made by the Van Houten process). In 1875 a Swiss manufacturer, Daniel Peters, found a way to combine cocoa powder and cocoa butter with sugar and dried milk powder to produce the first milk chocolate.
TODAY
The chocolate industry has grown to a worldwide industry topping plus $50 Billion in retail sales worldwide and continues to show healthy growth, with annual consumption of more than a million tons of processed chocolate. Of late, there has been an increasing trend towards high quality chocolates such as chocolates with high cocoa content and or chocolates flavoured with natural flavours and rich spices.
Chocolates major contribution has been gastronomic, but it has also played an important part in religious, medical, economic, and social history.
CHOCOLATE TREE
It is specific habitat that requires a narrow temperature range, the cacao tree will only bear fruit within twenty degrees to the north or south of the equator. It prefers well-shaded areas, and also needs year-round moisture and protection from strong winds. |
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