Chocolate - All About Chocolate

Fun Facts

The Spanish Took Chocolate Home to Europe
In 1521, the Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés led his country’s forces in battle to conquer the Aztec empire. The Spanish victors carried many treasures back home with them—including cacao seeds and the recipe for the Aztec chocolate drink.

Within 100 years, the popularity of this frothy beverage spread to the rest of Europe, where it became a taste sensation only the wealthy could afford.

	The Spanish invented a wooden stirring stick called a molinillo (moh lin EE oh) to whip their chocolate into a froth. They also added sugar to sweeten the bitter beverage.
	The Spanish carried home other American foods never seen before in Europe, such as corn, chile peppers, vanilla, tomatoes, and potatoes.
	Like the Aztecs, Europeans created special serving dishes just for drinking chocolate. (In fact, saucers were invented specifically to keep chocolate off of fine clothes.)
	Like the coffee shops of today, chocolate houses became popular places in 17th century Europe to socialize and drink chocolate.
	Wealthy people drank chocolate for breakfast. It was considered the height of good breeding to lie in bed and leisurely sip a cup of hot cocoa.

Continue to Mass Production Made Chocolate Candy Affordable

	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 © The Field Museum, Teresa Murray, © The Field Museum, Teresa Murray, © The Field Museum, A114167_1d © British Museum. London, © La Crainte by Noël Lemire/Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute	Technical Support webmaster@fieldmuseum.org