Chocolate - All About Chocolate

Fun Facts

The Maya Were Early Chocolate Makers
Before chocolate was a sweet candy, it was a spicy beverage. Some of the earliest known chocolate drinkers were the ancient Maya of Central America.

The Maya civilization reached its height during the Classic Period (250-900 C.E.[A.D.]). During this time, the Maya began gathering cacao seeds from rainforest trees and planting this important crop in household gardens.

	The Maya plucked the pods, scooped out the seeds, and ground them into chocolate using a stone mano (MAH noh) and metate (meh TAH tay).
	The Maya mixed chocolate with cornmeal, chile peppers, honey, and water. They poured this concoction from cup to bowl and back again until a nice, thick layer of foam formed on top.
	Maya priests presented a chocolate drink at sacred altars during special religious ceremonies. They also made offerings of cacao seeds to the gods.
	Anyone in ancient Maya society could drink chocolate. However, when Maya aristocrats served chocolate, they used lavishly decorated cups made by specially trained artists.

Continue to The Aztecs Used Cacao Seeds as Money

	Chocolate Home \| Chocolate Exhibition \| All About Chocolate \| Educators' Resources \| Planning Your Visit \| Events and Programs \| Chocolate Tour \| Field Museum \| Credits
	© 2007 The Field Museum, All Rights Reserved 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605-2496 312.922.9410 Copyright Information \| Linking Policy © Justin Kerr, © Justin Kerr, © Justin Kerr, © The Field Museum A114163_1d	Technical Support webmaster@fieldmuseum.org