Chocolate is certainly one of the most popular sweets in the world. But how did it actually come about? Here are some interesting facts about the history and background of chocolate.

 

Chocolate has been eaten for 2500 years. The first known people lived in Central America. The Mayas valued the cocoa bean as a divine gift and used it for ceremonies and as a means of payment. The word "cacao" comes from the Mayas and means "good food". After chocolate was introduced to Europe in the 16th century, the cocoa plant was given the Latin name Theobrama Cacao, which means "food for the gods".
The Aztecs mixed a drink of cocoa, chilli, maize flour and possibly hallucinogenic mushrooms and called it "Xocolati", from which our modern word chocolate was modified.

About two thirds of the cocoa consumed worldwide comes from Africa.

Cocoa butter is a by-product of the crushing of cocoa beans. Cocoa butter is used in the production of chocolate, but it also has a positive effect in cosmetics. Cocoa butter is a particularly highly concentrated, natural fat that melts at less than body temperature and thus easily penetrates the skin.

Interesting facts about chocolate

1. about twice as many women as men have regular cravings for chocolate.

2. cravings for chocolate cannot be satisfied by any other sweet.

3. chocolate increases serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain, acting as a mild antidepressant.

4. many people believe that chocolate has an aphrodisiac effect.

5. the world's largest chocolate construction was an Easter egg over three metres tall, made in Melbourne, Australia.

6. 17000 people in Belgium work in chocolate production.

7. despite its high fat content, chocolate does not increase LDL cholesterol.

8. half of the chocolate consumed worldwide is eaten in America.

9. Napoleon is said to have always carried a piece of chocolate in his pocket for a quick energy boost.

10. it takes about 270 cocoa beans to make half a kilo of chocolate.

11. 90% of the cocoa is grown on small family farms where the arable land is no larger than 5 hectares each.

12. between 6 and 7 billion tonnes of chocolate are sold worldwide every year.