Origin of Chocolate?

The Origin of Chocolate

The earliest known form of chocolate originated with the ancient Indians in Mexico as a food containing cocoa powder, which had a bitter, spicy flavor. Later, around the 16th century, the Spaniards made chocolate "sweet" by mixing cocoa powder and spices in cane juice to make a sweet drink. In 1876, a Swiss man named Peter had the idea of mixing some milk into the drink, which completed the process of creating modern chocolate. Soon after, someone else had the idea of dehydrating and concentrating liquid chocolate into a portable and easy-to-store chocolate candy bar.

References:

/longbook/1092041886%5Fwanshiyoulai/53%2Eshtml&b=0&a=28& user=baidu

The Origin of Chocolate

Cocoa was produced in the Americas about 500 years ago. Cocoa is the seed of a plant, rich in nutrients, unique functions, loved by the local population, due to the low yield, the price is expensive, coupled with the cacao tree is always green, therefore, it is known as the "green gold".

Early in the 16th century, when the great navigator Christopher Columbus sailed for the fourth time, passing through this piece of land producing cocoa, he was surprised to find: the fruit of a plant - cocoa has become the "currency". In the marketplace, the price of a slave was 2,100 cocoa beans.

"Oh, this magical bean, bidding so high!" The knowledgeable Columbus could not help but exclaim. He traded what he was carrying to the local Indians for some cocoa beans and brought them back to Spain.

But the Europeans at the time were not interested in cocoa. They only sometimes used cacao for refreshment or as a diuretic medicine.

By the late 1820s and early 1830s, cocoa had become so popular in Europe that demand outstripped supply. What was it that made Europeans reacquaint themselves with cocoa?

Originally, it was caused by a legendary story.

In 1519, the famous Spanish explorer Cortez headed the expedition, into the hinterland of Mexico. The team went to the desert, wading through streams, through dense forests, after a lot of hard work, reached a plateau, the road ahead is still long, but the team members back pain, exhaustion, one by one, lying on the bare land, let the breeze blow away the fatigue of the body. They are indeed too hard, really do not want to move a little!

It was at this time that a party of Indians came from the bottom of the hill. They were almost naked and barefoot, just covering themselves with leaves and grass and such. They held bows and arrows in their hands. Cortez hastened to greet them in the local vernacular he had just learned.

Seeing that Cortez and the others were listless, the friendly Indians opened their pouches, took the cocoa beans out of them, crushed them into powder, put them in a jar, put in water, and set the jar on the fire until the water boiled, then added some tree sap and pepper. At once, a strong fragrant odor emanated in the air.

The Indians gestured and gibbered to Cortez. Cortez had a hard time understanding what they meant: drink the blackened cocoa water from the jar to relieve his fatigue.

Cortez thanked them as he took the jar. He tasted it, "Ouch, it's bitter and spicy, it's awful!" Considering Indian etiquette, Cortez and his teammates each took two sips as if they were drinking a potion.

But unbelievably, in a short while, somehow, as if by magic, the expedition members regained their strength and energy.

The surprised Cortez rushed to the Indians to inquire about the recipe for the cocoa water. The Indians told him, "It is the drink of the gods."

1528. Cortés returned to Spain and presented King Charles V with cocoa, the "drink of the gods". However, taking into account the characteristics of the Spanish diet, Cortés used honey instead of sap and pepper in the prepared flavoring.

"Ah, this drink is great!" The king drank it with a roar of approval, and in his delight, he made Cortes a knight-at-arms.

After that, the cocoa drink became popular throughout Spain. The conservative Spaniards kept the preparation of the drink a secret.

It wasn't until 1606, more than 70 years later, when an Italian stole the recipe for the drink, that it spread throughout Europe. After the cocoa drink became popular in Europe, the cocoa drink business became a very lucrative industry. A Spanish food merchant named Rasco also made a lot of money.

One day, Rasco in the cooking drink, a sudden whim: this drink to cook too much trouble, if it can be made into solid food, eat a small piece of boiling water with a punch, or directly in the mouth of the deceased on the food, that's how good ah!

So, Rasco after repeated trials. Concentration, drying, plus honey modulation approach, made a solid cocoa drink. Because the cocoa drink originated from Mexico's "Choco Klatolu", therefore, Lasko solid cocoa drink called "Choco Te". This is the original chocolate.

When Chocolat was introduced, it was unfamiliar. In France, it was once considered a "precious medicine". This misadventure was linked to King Louis XIII of France.

Louis XIII's wife - the queen is a Spanish princess. 1612, the queen of France from her mother's home to bring back a bag of Spanish specialties - chocolate special. At that time, Louis XIII was in ill health and depressed. Curious king ate a piece of chocolate special, I do not know how, actually get well, the spirit also raised. Just handsome since the use of Louis XIII that this is a "precious medicine", instructed the doctor will be chocolate special hidden, only members of the royal family can enjoy when sick.

Until Louis XIV succeeded to the throne, Grandma and Grandpa's family, brought a lot of chocolate to congratulate him. It was only then that the French realized that chocolat was a food.

The Spaniards kept the preparation of chocolat as secret as they did the cocoa drink. It wasn't until 1763, when a British merchant stole the secret recipe, that Chocolat made its way to Britain. The British also added milk and cheese to the ingredients according to their own tastes, and "cream chocolate" was born.

At that time, the flavor of chocolate is not bad, but not good enough. Because there is a problem in the production process, that is, the cocoa powder contains oil, so that the cocoa is not easy and water, milk fusion into one, which affects the taste of chocolate. 1829, the Dutch scientists Howie invented the cocoa beans degreasing technology, so that the color, aroma and taste of chocolate is more perfect.

Since then, chocolate has become universally popular around the world.

Reference:

It seems like there are several ways to say this, and I don't know which one is true, sweaty~