Chocolate, Religion, and Government: Ancient Cultures Revered The Sweet Brown Stuff

Chocolate as we know it is one of the finest treats in the world. Chocolate has a 2,000 year history. Different cultures have used chocolate as part of their religion and government. Here are some of chocolates usages over the centuries.

The first evidence of chocolate in glyphs and in remains in ancient vessels come from the height of the Mayan civilization. The Maya traded with each other over long distances including the countries now known as: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.

The Maya people treasured and enjoyed cacao as evidenced in artifacts that are painted with scenes of people pouring and enjoying chocolate. Archaeologists have found artifacts that indicate that the Maya people valued chocolate so much that the planted cacao in their household gardens.

Chocolate was consumed as a beverage. The ancient chocolate beverages would have been bitter because sugar was unavailable to the ancient Mesoamericans.The cacao beans were toasted and ground up, possibly along with maize, vanilla or chilies, and mixed with hot water.The water to make had to be extremely hot for the chocolate mixture to work. The very hot water is where the Mexican term "Like Water for Chocolate" came from, meaning as hot as water for chocolate.

Chocolate was an important part of Maya and Aztec life. Chocolate was a part in royal and religious events. Priest offered cacao seeds the the gods and served chocolate drinks during sacred ceremonies.

Chocolate had medicinal uses in the ancient cultures, most probably as a stimulant and for stomach and intestinal problems.

Spanish conquistadors discovered chocolate in Central America. The Spanish noticed that they could keep their armies marching long distances with little food, when they gave them chocolate.

The Spanish brought the cacao back to Spain with them and introduced Chocolate to the rest of Europe. In Europe the custom of adding seasonings and sugar to the bitter drink made it more popular.

Classic Maya - 205-900 CE (AD)
Sacred Life: The Mayans paid homage to their gods by burning cacao seeds. Cacao seeds were an offering in their sacred life. The most sacred offering was blood. Sometimes blood was dripped over cacao pods and placed on altars. Chocolate drinks were used in betrothal and marriage ceremonies.

Secular Life: Chocolate was available to Maya of all ranks. Members of the aristocracy hand specially trained artists make lavishly decorated vessels just for the nobility to use for drinking chocolate.

Aztec - 1250 - 1521 AD

Sacred Life: The Aztecs believed that cacao seeds came from a god who brought cacao to Earth from paradise. The Aztecs may have used chocolate in some religious rituals.

Secular Life: Only the elite classes of society such as rulers, soldiers and honored merchants, had access to drinking chocolate. Cacao seeds were very valuable and were used as a form of money. Some dishonest merchants are believed to have made counterfeit cacao seeds.

Europeans -1600 - 1800 AD

Sacred Life: Chocolate was intertwined into the Christian traditions during the 17th through the 19th centuries. The Catholic Church declared that drinking chocolate during Lent did not break the Lenten fast, because it was a liquid and not a solid food. There was much debate in the Catholic Church about this. It is reported that chocolate was the preferred drink of Cardinals. Chocolate was served while electing a new pope.

Secular Life: For many years only the members of the ruling class and aristocracy could afford this expensive import,

Today

Sacred Life: In most modern society, chocolate is associated with holidays such as Hanukkah, Christmas, and Easter because it is a celebratory sweet treat.

In Mexico chocolate is still used for sacred use by families who build altars in their homes to welcome the souls of departed loved ones.

Secular Life: Chocolate is is a luxury because of is exquisite flavor. Today's chocolate bears little resemblance to the ancient chocolate beverage. Much of the flavor that people today associate with chocolate are the sugar, vanilla and shortening that the chocolate is mixed with.

Today, chocolate is easy to come by in the western world, but that has not always been the case. Perhaps the reason that chocolate is so ofter included in holidays, aside from the fact that it tastes good. is that chocolate has a long and illustrious history as a special treat for the most important people. When you give or receive box of remember that it has a history of being a high honor.