The history of chocolate goes back to the ancient Mayan culture. The Mayans carved images of the cocoa beans in the walls of their temple. Cocoa comes from the cacao tree. They crushed the beans and mixed them with other ingredients to form a drink for special social or religious occasions.

Around 1000 A.D., the Aztecs taxes were paid in cocoa beans. Under Aztec Emperor Montezuma, the drink made from cocoa beans was reserved for the male elite.

By the 1500′s, the Spanish explorers shipped the cocoa beans to Spain where they soon added sugar, cinnamon, vanilla & other ingredients to create a delicious hot beverage.

About 100 years later, the rest of Europe discovered chocolate. It became popular first in the royal courts and in 1657, the first chocolate house was opened in London by a Frenchman. With the industrial revolution, chocolate became available to everyone as it became more affordable.

In the 1720′s several coffee-houses in Italy began offering chocolate and Italian chocolatiers were becoming known for making chocolate.

In 1765, chocolate was introduced to the United States when cocoa beans were brought from the West Indies to Dorchester, Massachusetts.

By 1810, Spain was consuming one-third of the cocoa being produced in the world.

In 1847, a chocolate factory in England molded the first chocolate bar suitable for human consumption. As chocolate factories reduced the production costs, by the early 1900′s all levels of society were able to enjoy chocolate.

This industry has grown worldwide–topping $50 billion in retail sales as it continues to be a favorite of everyone.