Curiosities about the history of chocolate

What is the scientific name of chocolate? Teobroma cacao, which literally means “The food of the gods”… and in fact how many we thought of it while tasting a chocolate?!?!

Where is chocolate made from? Chocolate has vegetable origins, it is obtained from the seeds of the cocoa plant.

Is chocolate a food with recent origins? Absolutely not, the origins of chocolate are indeed very ancient and date back to the Mayan period.

Where does the word “chocolate” come from? The term “chocolate” comes from xocolatl, an Aztec term, a combination of the words xocolli (bitter) and atl (water).

Has chocolate always been consumed in chocolates or bars? No, cocoa was originally used as a drink.

Are there other curiosities related to chocolate in ancient times? The Aztecs and Mayans associated chocolate with the goddess of fertility.

In the past, was chocolate a widespread food accessible to everyone? No, cocoa beans were considered a precious commodity, so much so that they were even used as a bargaining chip.

How did chocolate get to Europe? Christopher Columbus was the first European to learn about cocoa and, together with Cortes, brought the seeds to Europe for the first time.

And then? In the sixteenth century, the Spaniards maintained for a long time the commercial dominance of chocolate, but starting from 1600, chocolate spread in Europe in quality environments.

But in Italy? In the eighteenth century, in Venice, chocolate was the subject of experiments and competitions: inside the “coffee shops” or “chocolate shops” new recipes were born to produce chocolate.

Today? Today chocolate is research, passion, experience, product to be enjoyed or used in sweet or savory preparations. Chocolate can be dark, milky, stuffed or enriched with various ingredients, but above all, chocolate is pure pleasure!

AT THE MOMENT THE SHIPMENTS OF CHOCOLATE ARE SUSPENDED AND WILL RESUME IN OCTOBER WITH MANY NEWS