Untitled

PACKAGING INSPIRED FROM COCOA FRUIT

PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES

EMOTIONAL ATTRIBUTES

MYTHS / STORIES

COCOA AND BY-PRODUCTS

FORMS

TEXTURE

COLOR

LAYERS

soap

COCOA POD

COCOA BEAN

POD TEXTURE

BEAN TEXTURE

chocolate

wine

vinegar

cocoa butter

skin and hair creams

jam & jelly

soft drinks

smell

taste

perfume

cigaratte

The cacao plant is a mythologically important one to the Aztec Indians and other indigenous tribes of Mexico. The Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, the Plumed Serpent, was believed to have brought the first cacao tree with him from the heavens when he descended from earth. Because of this, cacao beans were associated with wisdom and magical power by the Aztecs, and their chocolate drink, xocolatl, was primarily consumed during tribal ceremonies or prayer, particularly by priests and members of the royal family (who were considered divinities.) Ordinary Aztec people were only likely to taste this special chocolate concoction on their wedding day (when the drink was served to the bride and groom) or at a curing ceremony (where it was given as medicine by a priest.) Other Mexican tribes, such as the Mayas, viewed chocolate more practically, and Mayan people from all walks of life frequently used it as a food flavoring. Hot and cold chocolate drinks are still extremely popular in many Maya communities today, although modern chocolate drinks tend to be sweet (ancient Mesoamerican chocolate drinks were bitter, like coffee.) During some time periods, cacao beans were so valued that they were even used as a form of currency in ancient Mesoamerica.