The word “chocolate” comes from the word “xocoatl” or “chocolatl”. Mayan “school” means hot or bitter, and the Aztec “atl” means water. Chocolate is made from the cacao plant. Before it was ever made into a sweet candy, it was ground into a beverage. In ruling class society, the beverage was used for medical purposes.
Chocolate Facts
• In 1828 technology was invented that allowed chocolate to be produced into a solid form.
• In 1828, thanks to the invention of Dutch chemist Coenraad Van Houten, we can enjoy chocolate in the form we have today. His hydraulic press made it possible to remove the cocoa butter from the cacao-producing a powder opening the way for the first chocolate confections.
• In 1847 cocoa butter, cocoa powder and sugar were combined by British chocolate company J.S. Fry & Sons to produce the first edible chocolate bar.
• Whitman’s produced their first box of chocolate.
• The invention of the conching machine by Rodolphe Lindt in 1879 ushered in mass production of the creamy treat.
• The first chocolate Easter egg was made sometime in the early 19th century. In 1875 John Cadbury introduced his first chocolate egg.
• Hershey Chocolate company designed a specific chocolate bar for the U.S. Army. The D ration bar was included in the emergency rations and in the packs of soldiers when the Allied troops stormed the beach of Normandy on D-Day.
• Americans consume 12 pounds of chocolate each year.
