The story of chocolate part 2

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The Mayans were the first people to plant the beans of wild cocoa trees. This was the beginning of cocoa farming. In return for other goods, the Mayans traded cocoa beans to the Aztecs, whose lands were too dry to grow cocoa trees.

 Both the Mayans and the Aztecs used cocoa beans to make a drink known as chocolatl. The beans were dried and crushed, and then mixed with water. The Mayans drank chocolatl hot, whilst the Aztecs drank it cold.

 Often flavourings, such as chilli or vanilla, were added. Nevertheless, the taste must have been bitter. In fact, the word chocolatl is said to mean “bitter water”.

 Chocolatl was served on special occasions, such as rituals and royal feasts. The mixture was usually poured from a height into the drinking vessel to make a thick foam on the top.

 Both the Mayans and the Aztecs use cocoa beans as money. They also gave beans as special gifts, and as offerings for the gods.

 The land where cocoa trees grew became very valuable. Over several centuries, the Aztecs spread and took much of this land.

 They collected taxes from the people in the form of cocoa beans. Their Aztec kings filled storehouses with the precious beans. Some people say that the emperor Montezuma had more than 960 million beans in his storehouses.

Reference: Polin C.J., The Story of Chocolate, DK READERS, 2005.

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