You all realize that South Americans and Central Americans are still Americans, neh? And you Northern European influenced culture types would know NOTHING of the beany blessing had it not been offered in friendship to a pillaging conqueror masquerading as a feathered god, yes?
From the Godiva website (http://www.godiva.be/about/history.asp):
600 - The 'Xocoati' Chocolate is born in pre-Colombian America. The first traces of the use of cocoa appear from the Mayan civilisation in the seventh century. The Mayans make a religious tonic drink out of cocoa beans which they would christen `chacau haa' or 'Xocoatl.'
1200 - The Tree of Paradise After the crumbling of the Mayan empire, the Toltecs continue with the cultivation of cocoa under the name of tree of paradise. The beans become a unit of currency in the whole of Central America. The Aztecs also give great importance to cocoa, claiming it gives them their wisdom and strength.
1502 - Silver grows on trees Christopher Columbus discovers chocolate, but it is the conquistadors who will be the first to be aware of the value of "the silver which grows on trees". In 1513,Hernando de Oviedo y Valdez reports that he has bought a slave for a hundred cocoa beans.
1519 - An amorous conquest When the conquistador Hernan Cortes lands on the Tabasco coast in April 1519, the Emperor Moctezuma assumes he is the god king Quetzalcoatl whose return by sea is predicted in the legends. He welcomes him, accepts Spanish domination and gives him the cocoa plantations. And introduces him to chocolate, a bitter drink which he is convinced has aphrodisiac properties. Cortes is more seduced by the idea of "growing silver".
no subject
From the Godiva website (http://www.godiva.be/about/history.asp):
600 - The 'Xocoati'
Chocolate is born in pre-Colombian America. The first traces of the use of cocoa appear from the Mayan civilisation in the seventh century. The Mayans make a religious tonic drink out of cocoa beans which they would christen `chacau haa' or 'Xocoatl.'
1200 - The Tree of Paradise
After the crumbling of the Mayan empire, the Toltecs continue with the cultivation of cocoa under the name of tree of paradise. The beans become a unit of currency in the whole of Central America. The Aztecs also give great importance to cocoa, claiming it gives them their wisdom and strength.
1502 - Silver grows on trees
Christopher Columbus discovers chocolate, but it is the conquistadors who will be the first to be aware of the value of "the silver which grows on trees". In 1513,Hernando de Oviedo y Valdez reports that he has bought a slave for a hundred cocoa beans.
1519 - An amorous conquest
When the conquistador Hernan Cortes lands on the Tabasco coast in April 1519, the Emperor Moctezuma assumes he is the god king Quetzalcoatl whose return by sea is predicted in the legends. He welcomes him, accepts Spanish domination and gives him the cocoa plantations. And introduces him to chocolate, a bitter drink which he is convinced has aphrodisiac properties. Cortes is more seduced by the idea of "growing silver".