Nestle and Cadbury are the heavy weights of chocolate today. But who do we have to thank for discovering the almighty, cocoa bean?
The first European who can rightly claim the 'discovery' of cocoa is Christopher Columbus. The story taking place in 1502, during his last voyage to the Caribbean, he lands on the island of Guanaja.He was greeted by the Aztecs who offered him a bag of cocoa beans in exchange for trade goods.
Columbus failed to grasp the importance of these beans, more so, he detests the beverage prepared from these beans, which is known as Xocolatl (literally translating into 'bitter water'). And he returns to Spain without realizing the economic importance of these cocoa beans.
Seventeen Years later...
Hernán Cortés, a friend of the divine emperor Moctezuma from Tenochtitlàn, the Aztec capital. Who along with Columbus, wasn't a fan of the 'Xocolatl' beverage. However, was aware of the enormous value of the Cocoa bean as a means of currency. With the aid of the natives Cortes captured the emperor and built cocoa plantations all over the Caribbean.
From then on, cocoa has been grown all over the world, but the most valued and expensive varieties are still found in the regions from which the tree originates.
