"It" has been consumed since the 1500's B.C.. Warriors drank it to gather courage, and common people took it as a medicine. It was so revered that wars were fought over its trade routes, and its seeds were used as money. Today it can be eaten or drunk. Wh

The rich history of this beloved treat begins in ancient Mesoamerica, with evidence of its consumption by the Olmec civilization dating as far back as 1500 B.C. For the later Maya and Aztec cultures, it was a sacred beverage. Rather than a sweet bar, it was a frothy, bitter drink often spiced with chili peppers, believed to impart strength and courage to warriors. It was also widely used as a medicinal remedy for a variety of ailments. The value placed on cacao was so immense that its beans were a standard form of currency; the Aztecs used them to pay for everything from food to taxes.

When Spanish conquistadors introduced the bean to Europe in the 16th century, its global journey began. The original bitter preparation was not immediately popular, but the European addition of sugar and milk transformed it into a decadent luxury for the elite. This new demand created intense competition and conflict among colonial powers vying for control over the lucrative trade routes and plantations where it was grown. This evolution from a sacred, bitter drink and form of currency to the globally consumed solid bars and sweet beverages we enjoy today is one of history's most delicious transformations.