Chocolate in ancient times
Chocolate is done of cocoa beans. That is why the history of chocolate is very much connected with the history of cacao tree.
The drink made from the fruits of the tree cacao appeared more than 300 years ago. They say that the first people who created chocolate were Indians the civilization of which existed in the 2d century a.c. on the territory of South-Eastern Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala. In the 1st century a.c. Maya civilization changed the former one. Populating the peninsula Yucatan, Mayas found here a lot of cacao trees and also started to make drink from beans of this tree. Considering cacao to be the god gift, Maya prayed to the god of cacao. And the beans of this tree were even used as money.
During 12-14th centuries there was a strong government on the territory of Mexico that was formed by Aztecs. When this tribe conquered other tribes of the neighbour territory they took beans of cacao as tributary that was used later to make drink.
There is a legend that tells us about the appearance of cacao. Once there was an old gardener who had the gift to cultivate plants. Once he created a little tree and called it cacao. The beans of this tree are so alike cucumbers. And the drink made of these beans could save people from depression and made people more active. And people started to value it as gold. The gardener became rich and popular and thought he was the god. Gods punished him for thinking like that making him crazy. Being angry he destroyed all plants except of one. And this was the cacao tree.