Ancient Chocolate

Annotations:

• Resource/Reference Information:   http://www.fieldmuseum.org/chocolate/history_intro.html The Field Museum 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr. Chicago, IL 60605-2496  

1. History
   1. The first people clearly known to have discovered the secret of cacao were the Classic Period Maya (250-900 C.E. [A.D.]). The Maya and their ancestors in Mesoamerica took the tree from the rainforest and grew it in their own backyards, where they harvested, fermented, roasted, and ground the seeds into a paste.
   2. Many people in Classic Period Maya society could drink chocolate at least on occasion, although it was a particularly favored beverage for royalty. But in Aztec society, primarily rulers, priests, decorated soldiers, and honored merchants could partake of this sacred brew.
   3. Ancient picture of the process of making a chocolate drink
2. Cultural Importance
   1. Cacao played an important role in their religious and social lives
      1. . The Aztecs traded with Maya and other peoples for cacao and often required that citizens and conquered peoples pay their tribute in cacao seeds—a form of Aztec money.
      2. Chocolate also played a special role in both Maya and Aztec royal and religious events. Priests presented cacao seeds as offerings to the gods and served chocolate drinks during sacred ceremonies.
3. Comsumption
   1. Drank as a bitter beverage
      1. Cacao was mixed with water, chili peppers, cornmeal, and other ingredients, this paste made a frothy, spicy chocolate drink. for the Maya.
      2. Like the earlier Maya, the Aztecs also consumed their bitter chocolate drink seasoned with spices—sugar was an agricultural product unavailable to the ancient Mesoamericans
4. Resource: http://www.fieldmuseum.org/chocolate/history_intro.html