The History of Cacao as the Heritage of Latin American Civilizations and Conversion to Chocolate

Abstract

Cacao and chocolate having significant roles for humans, primarily with the taste, in the
frame of socio-cultural, socio-politics and socio-economics for thousands of years are the
heritage to human kind from the civilizations of early Mexico and Central America called
Mesoamerica. Cacao, the raw material of chocolate, was discovered by the leading
primary actors of Latin American civilizations as Olmecs, Mokayas, Mayas and Aztecs,
and has continued to enchant people for ages with the conversion to chocolate. In this
study, cacao tree as the main ingredient of chocolate with its origin depending on Latin
America after its discovery as a bitter drink is discussed from a historical point of view
reaching from Latin America to Europe within growth conditions, types, findings, ways of
consumption, myths, legends, its place in ceremonies and conversion to chocolate.