| A journey through the history of
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| | beginning of the downfall of the Aztec
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| chocolate reveals that this mysterious
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| | Empire, but helped Cortes realize that
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| food has woven its story throughout
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| | this crop had tremendous potential led
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| multiple cultures and continents
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| | him to establish cacao plantations
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| impacting civilizations culturally,
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| | throughout the Caribbean.When Columbus
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| socially, economically and spiritually. A
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| | and Cortes returned to Spain the bitter
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| study of the history of chocolate begins
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| | cacao drink of the Aztec culture was
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| by going back in time to the realm of the
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| | introduced to Europe and there it was
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| Maya Indians and the Olmec Civilizations
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| | sweetened to make it more in tune to the
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| of Central America.The word cacao was
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| | European tastes. It became a drink of the
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| found in the Olmec vocabulary nearly
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| | elite and wealthy. Within ten years,
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| 3,000 years ago. The hot, humid, but
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| | chocolate was enjoyed throughout the
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| shady climate of the tropical rain
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| | courts in the French aristocracy.
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| forests of this region was perfect for
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| | Chocolate became known throughout the
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| growing cacao plants. The Maya felt the
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| | countries of Europe and in the middle of
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| cacao tree was owned by the gods and the
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| | the 17th century chocolate appeared in
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| pods were offered as a gift from the gods
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| | England. There it was highly taxed
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| to man. The cacao pod became the symbol
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| | continuing its reputation as a luxury to
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| of fertility and life in the Mayan
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| | be enjoyed only by those privileged
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| culture.Later, in the 18th century, a
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| | enough to afford it.Cacao was primarily
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| Swedish botanist named Linnaeus, called
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| | only for drinking until 1828. Chocolate
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| the cacao tree theobroma cacao, which
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| | was prepared as a drink by grinding up
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| means "drink of the gods". It was the
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| | the beans into a thin paste and adding
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| Mayan people that did indeed make a drink
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| | spices and sweetening and then adding
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| from the cacao pods. This drink was
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| | something to soak up the cocoa butter,
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| considered a "royal" brew enjoyed by the
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| | which would float to the surface.Coenraad
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| noblemen and kings and was often used in
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| | J. Van Houten, a Dutch chemist in that
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| sacred rituals. Hot chili peppers were
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| | year invented a press which would release
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| added to flavor it or maize was often
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| | the cocoa butter from the bean, leaving
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| added to change its texture.In 1502,
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| | the dryer cake that could be ground up
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| Columbus, on his 4th and final voyage to
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| | into a powder similar to the fat-free
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| the Caribbean, was given a sack of cacao
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| | cocoa powder we enjoy today.Twenty years
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| seeds as a form of payment. He was unsure
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| | later European companies used the presses
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| of the worth of the seeds, so the Aztecs
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| | made by Van Houten to produce the first
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| made him a drink from the pods to show
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| | eating chocolate. By taking what was left
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| him its potential. They felt this drink
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| | after separating the cocoa powder from
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| was a source of energy, spiritual wisdom,
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| | the butter, the industry saw that they
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| and enhanced sexual powers. They used it
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| | could melt the cocoa butter and combine
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| to fortify their warriors when in battle.
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| | it with a blend of ground cacao beans and
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| Although Columbus did not personally care
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| | sugar, mix this into a paste and mold it.
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| for it, he accepted the seeds in payment,
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| | Edible chocolate was the final product.
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| being curious as to its value upon
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| | Chocolate appeared on the market in the
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| returning to Spain.Years later, when
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| | United States around the turn of the
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| Cortes arrived in the New World, he noted
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| | twentieth century and now nearly one
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| that the Aztecs used the cacao beans as
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| | hundred years later is still in harmony
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| their treasury and kept huge storehouses
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| | with all who love it's unique, rich
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| of the seeds. Cortes was offered a cacao
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| | taste.Jane S. Roseen became the sole
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| plantation and a royal welcome from the
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| | Owner and President of Harmony Sweets in
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| Aztec ruler Montezuma, when he mistakenly
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| | 2005. Since then she has taken a small,
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| thought Cortes was the reincarnation of a
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| | successful online gourmet chocolate shop
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| former god and king. This was the
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| | and made it a name recognized world-wide.
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