Chocolate A True History

The discovery of chocolate goes back a couple of thousand years. The seeds of the cacao (kah KOW) tree were used by the ancient peoples of MesoAmerica as a bitter beverage. The chocolate played an important role in their religious and social lives.

The ancient Maya (250-900 AD) harvested, fermented, roasted, and ground the seeds into a paste. Mixing it with water, chili peppers, cornmeal, and other ingredients they created a spicy chocolate beverage.

The Mayan Cacao God is pictured to the right.

Image Credit: EcoTurismo Yucatan

The Aztecs loved chocolateso much that they even used cacao seeds removed from the pods as a form of money.

Primarily the drink made from the seeds was reserved for rulers, priests, decorated soldiers, and honored merchants.

Pictured at the right is a cacao pod sliced in half.

Image Credit: Wikipedia and a part of the Public Domain

Although Columbus had brought back cacao seeds to Spain, it was greatly ignored until Hernando Cortes conquered the Aztecs around 1521.

Cortes, pictured at right, was intrigued by the use of the seeds as money by the Aztecs. He actually started his own plantation in Mexico growing the trees in order to export the seeds back to Spain. Spaniards eventually added sugar and cinnamon to lessen the bitterness of the drink.

The Spanish kept chocolate a secret from the rest of Europe for nearly 100 years. One legend says that a group of English pirates confiscated chocolate from a Spanish ship and introduced the drink to England. Another tale says Italian merchants purchased the secret of chocolate while on a business trip in Spain. A third claims that a royal princess of Spain who married King Louis XIII of France was the first to "spill the beans" about chocolate's marvelous flavor.

Image Credit: Wikipedia and is a part of the Public Domain.

Ingredients:

1 stick butter
2 squares unsweetened chocolate
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt

Melt together butter and unsweetened chocolate. Take the pan off of the heat. Stir in sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Beat mixture well. Stir in flour and salt. Bake brownies in a buttered and floured 8 inch square pan at 325 degrees for 40 minutes.

(original recipe called for 1 cup chopped walnuts to be added)

All chocolate lovers have their own favorite brand. Most of us rarely turn away any brand but we do have our favorites. I would like to introduce you to my favorite Chocolatier.

DeBrand began in 1987 with Cathy Brand opening her first chocolate shop. Cathy grew up in the confectionery business and began making chocolates at the age of eight. She has a passion and commitment to produce fine chocolates that are second to none in taste and beauty.

DeBrand has a full line of chocolates to pleasure the palette of any chocolate connoisseur. My particular favorite is the soft caramels in dark chocolate.

You can visit the DeBrand website and order directly from there. If you have never tasted these chocolates, you are in for one delightful treat! DeBrand Chocolate

Copyright: April 23, 2009 by BevsPaper (Beverly Owens)