Did You Know?
- Chocolate is made from the beans of the cacao tree, which grows in tropical climates around the world.
- Dark chocolate typically contains a higher percentage of cocoa solids than milk chocolate.
- The ancient Maya and Aztec civilizations valued cocoa so highly that it was sometimes used as a form of currency.
- Cocoa beans go through fermentation, drying, roasting, and grinding before becoming chocolate.
- White chocolate contains cocoa butter but does not contain cocoa solids.
- Chocolate has been enjoyed for more than 3,000 years in various forms.
- Switzerland is well known for producing high-quality chocolate and has one of the highest chocolate consumption rates in the world.
- Cocoa naturally contains antioxidants called flavanols, which have been studied for their potential health benefits.
- It takes hundreds of cocoa beans to produce a single batch of chocolate bars.
- Chocolate comes in many varieties, including dark, milk, white, ruby, and flavored specialty chocolates.
History
The cacao tree was first domesticated at least 5,300 years ago by the Mayo-Chinchipe culture in South America before it was introduced in Mesoamerica.[2] Cacao was consumed by pre-Hispanic cultures in spiritual ceremonies, and its beans were a common currency in Mesoamerica. The cacao tree grows in a limited geographical zone; today, West Africa produces nearly 81% of the world's crop. The three main varieties of cocoa plants are Forastero, Criollo, and Trinitario, with Forastero being the most widely used.