Chocolate in its American homeland

Christopher Columbus noticed how valuable cocoa beans were to the Mayas when he captured one of their trading canoes off present-day Honduras, but he investigated no further. In fact, they used them both as a currency and for a drink which they called xocolatl and which they restricted to high-born males.

It was Hernando Cortes, conqueror of the Aztec empire in what is now Mexico, who fist saw the potential of chocolate. To be sure, he was originally attracted to the idea of "planting money" and established a cocoa plantation in order to use the beans as currency. But he was also responsible for introducing the exotic drink to the Spanish court, bringing the first beans to Europe in 1528 along with the equipment for preparing it. However, as far as he himself was concerned, the most useful thing about this drink was its ability to reinvigorate his weary soldiers.

Chocolate in Europe

Opinions about chocolate were divided: a jaded Italian trader described it as producing a "drink for pigs" but its Latin name, theobroma, means "food for the gods."

The Spaniards certainly were not impressed: they found it too bitter and spicy. But then they added their own ingredients. Regular imports to Spain started in 1585. It still didn't much resemble the chocolate we know today, either in taste or consistency: for example, the flavourings used by the Spaniards included black pepper. As the use of chocolate became more widespread, makers thought of other additions - milk, wine or even beer. Chocolate remained first and foremost a drink until the 19th century, although a paste version was also available.

Chocolate owed its first popularity to its use as a medicine. It was regarded as highly nourishing, and credited with the ability to reduce fever among other ailments. It was also said to sweeten the breath.

The drink took off in France from around 1615, when the Spanish princess Anne of Austria married the French king Louis XIII and brought it to the French court. Because of its high cost only those with very deep pockets could indulge, and drinking chocolate soon became a mark of status. From France it spread through Europe as the fashionable drink of the wealthy.