Interesting Facts About Chocolate, History, Who Invented, Melting Point

History and Interesting Facts About Chocolate 

When Was Chocolate First Made?

The vast majority of people really love this candy, but don't really know all that much about it and how it is made. There is a lot of history behind this sweet treat, and a lot of interesting facts about chocolate.

Chocolate was first grown in Central America. It is believed that the Olmec people who lived on the Gulf of Mexico about three thousand years ago were the first people to grow cacao trees. The Maya used cacao in religious ceremonies and made a drink out of it. However, this drink is not the same as our hot chocolate today.

Many times it included hot chili peppers, and it was not a sweet drink. The Aztecs and Toltecs also used cacao, and passed it on to Christopher Columbus, though he didn't realize the true value of chocolate at the time.

Who Invented It?

The first European to really figure out the importance of this plant was Hernan Cortes, who discovered it was both a food and a form of currency with the Aztec. Chocolate didn't really start to be a sweet treat until around 1849 when the Fry family mixed cacao butter, ground cacao beans, and sugar to make chocolate bars.

Not Charlie but Milton is the Hershey Guy

When looking into another fact that might interest you, you will discover that the United States didn't really get into making chocolate sweets until Milton Hershey started to make milk chocolate bars in 1895.

Now you can go to tour the Hershey factory and see how these and other chocolate treats such as the Hershey's Kisses are made. Chocolate had come to the United States earlier, when Dr. James Baker and John Hannon  started a chocolate factory in 1765 in Massachusetts. They mainly produced cocoa powder type products.

Health Benefits

Believe it or not, besides using confections for dipping fruit is that at one time chocolate was used as a medicine. It was mixed with other ingredients in order to form "cures" for everything from diarrhea to consumption to a broken heart. Although it doesn't really cure all these conditions, it does have some health benefits.

Stronger Bones Just from Indulging Yourself?

Milk chocolate will provide some calcium, while dark chocolate has less fat. Chocolate in general is a natural stimulant. One more of the interesting facts is that chocolate has been in the news lately because it has been found to contain flavenoids. These act like antioxidants and help your body to deal with free radicals. They also might help to lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

Wow! Going out to buy me some Kit Kats right now!