ALL ABOUT CHOCOLATE - Chocolate History, Chocolate Facts, Health and Chocolate

Where did it come from?
Chocolate was discovered by the ancient Mesoamericans over 2,000 years ago. The ancient Maya discovered cacao pods growing in their rainforests, found that the seeds could be mixed with spices for a spicy and luscious drink, and began to cultivate them. It was highly favored but limited to the elite of that ancient society. And since the Maya didn't have sugar their "cocoa" wasn't sweet but, as shown above, spicy. Trade with other Mesoamerican cultures introduced this delicacy to the Aztecs, who then would demand tribute in cacao seeds. (But remember this was a spicy, not sweet chocolate, to this day Mexican chocolate often has spices added to it. And have you ever had Mole? Check out my Recipe Archives for a recipe!! it will be in the Chocolate section, of course.)
When the Spanish conquistadors brought the seeds back home to Spain and new recipes were created. The Spanish are credited with adding sugar to their drink and eventually this was the form that brought chocolate to the rest of Europe. Since cacao and sugar were expensive imports only the chosen few could afford to drink it and it remained a drink only for royals and the wealthy until the Industrial Revolution helped bring chocolate to the masses. Thank God!
A more detailed history of chocolate can be found at the Field Museum

Is it good for you?
There are over 300 chemicals contained in chocolate - someday someone had to find some that were good for us AND THEY DID!
One study has shown that the smell of chocolate might relax you by increasing theta waves in your brain!
Chocolate contains small amounts of a chemical called phenylethylamine (PEA) which is a mood elevator! We knew that already, didn't we Divas?!
According to the Mayo Clinic studies, the stearic acid in chocolate is a neutral fat that does NOT increase bad cholesterol! AND the cocoa butter in chocolate has oleic acid which is a mono-unsaturated fat - the same type of fat found in olive oil which might actually raise good cholesterol!
Chocolate contains proteins, rivoflavin, calcium and iron.
Want to know more? Google "history of chocolate" like I did - fascinating! And you can do the search right here on the google search bar!

Chocolate Quotes

Probably the most famous chocolate quote in today's world:
Life is like a box of chocolates -- you never know what you're going to get - Forrest Gump in "Forrest Gump"

There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles - Anonymous

Make a list of important things to do today. At the top of your list, put 'eat chocolate.' Now, you'll get at least one thing done today - Unknown

I never met a chocolate I didn't like - Deanna Troi, Star Trek: The Next Generation

The 12-step chocoholics program: NEVER BE MORE THAN 12 STEPS AWAY FROM CHOCOLATE - Terry Moore

All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt - Lucy Van Pelt in The Peanuts Comic Strip by Charles M. Schulz

I have this theory that chocolate slows down the aging process.... It may not be true, but do I dare take the chance? - Anonymous

It's not that chocolates are a substitute for love. Love is a substitute for chocolate. Chocolate is, let's face it, far more reliable than a man - Miranda Ingram

Researchers have discovered that chocolate produced some of the same reactions in the brain as marijuana. The researchers also discovered other similarities between the two, but can't remember what they are - Matt Lauer