The True History of Chocolate

Comments:

1. The first people that were known to discover the cacao were the Mayans.
2. They took the tree from the rainforest and grew it in their backyards.
3. That's were they hardvested, fermented, roasted, and ground the seeds into a paste.
4. To make the spicy chocolate drink they mixed water, chile peppers, cornmeal, and other ingredients.
5. For these people chocolate wasn't only a drink or food, it also played an important role in their religious and social lives.

Questions:

1. How did the spicy drink taste?
2. How did chocolate play an important role in their religious and social lives?
3. How long did it take for the cacao to grow?
4. Did this drink help them with any health problems?

Vocabulary:

1. fermented- Something, such as a yeast, bacterium, mold, or enzyme, that causes fermentation
2. cacao- A small tropical American evergreen tree
3. frothy- Of, like, or having froth; foamy.

Overview:

The Mayas were known to be the first to discover the tree. They took they tree from the rainforest and re-grew it in their own backyards. They made the drink by using water, chile peppers, cornmeal, and other ingredients. Later, the Spanish conquistadors brought the seed to Spain, where the new reipes were created. The popularity of the drink grew and spread throughout Europe. Ever since the new technology changed the texture and taste of chocolate. And is still one of the world's favorite flavors.