English: proiektua

Xocolat

475

The Mayas and Aztecs used the cocoa beans to brew a drink (the xocoat or bitter water).

Cocoa

600

The cocoa became very important in the Aztec culture. They believed that their
God Quetzalcoatl had given the cocoa tree to them as a present and they used cocoa in sacred
ceremonies as gifts to the gods. It was also the main food in their diet. Cocoa beans were even
used instead of money. A rabbit cost 4 cocoa beans, a slave cost 100 beans.

Drinking chocolate

1526

Cortes returned to Spain from Mexico in 1528 with cocoa beans and chocolate drink making equipment. The Spanish added sugar to the mix for a sweeter taste And they kept the recipe secretly for a hundred years.

Chocolate houses

1835

In the 18th century, the chocolate houses became a fashionable place to meet and chat. After the invention of the cocoa press became famous in the 19th century the chocolate it could be mass-produced and so became
available to everybody.

Chocolate bar

1875

In 1847, Fry Sons devolped the first solid chocolate bar for sale. The first milk chocolate bar was produced by the company Nestle in Switzerland in 1875. Many chocolate bars today
are made by the same families that set up the first chocolate factories; Cadbury, Bournville, Lindt, Suchard etc.