The history of chocolate - Deanna Pucciarelli
TED-Ed・3 minutes read
Chocolate was introduced to Europe by Hernán Cortés in the 16th century, leading to its transformation into a popular sweet treat. The invention of milk chocolate by Daniel Peter in the 19th century made chocolate available to the public, changing the world of chocolate forever.
Insights
- Chocolate originated in Mesoamerica and was consumed as a bitter drink with chili peppers before being introduced to the Spanish court by Hernán Cortés, where it was sweetened and transformed into a popular delicacy.
- The development of the cocoa press in 1828 by Coenraad van Houten revolutionized chocolate production by separating cocoa butter from the powder, enabling the creation of solid chocolate. This innovation, along with the addition of powdered milk by Daniel Peter, led to the widespread availability of milk chocolate as a treat for the public by the 20th century.
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Recent questions
When was chocolate first introduced to the Spanish court?
1519
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Summary
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Evolution of Chocolate: From Bitter to Sweet
- Chocolate was not known outside of Mesoamerica before the 16th century, where it was prepared by grinding cacao beans with cornmeal and chili peppers to create a bitter, invigorating drink believed to be a heavenly food gifted by a feathered serpent god.
- The first transatlantic chocolate encounter occurred in 1519 when Hernán Cortés visited Moctezuma, leading to the introduction of chocolate to the Spanish court and its transformation into a popular delicacy sweetened with honey, sugar, or vanilla.
- The world of chocolate changed in 1828 with the introduction of the cocoa press by Coenraad van Houten, which separated cocoa butter from the powder, leading to the creation of solid chocolate. Daniel Peter later added powdered milk, inventing milk chocolate, making chocolate a treat for the public by the 20th century.
