I don’t know if meme “dump” is the correct term, but it was easier to format than when I tried “meme album.” The gist: This is full of memes about the history of chocolate.
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Also, you might notice that a lot of the captions are blue or cyan in color. That’s the best color that I can read – that’s what the color is about.
I feel the need to add a small PSA. I picked this cat because it was cute, but PLEASE DO NOT GIVE YOUR PETS CHOCOLATE – IT IS LETHALLY POISONOUS TO THEM.
Small disclaimer: I’m not a historian. I am extremely thorough when researching something, but that does not equate to an expert. I *could* have some things wrong, but I did my very best!
Some sources say that it’s as old as 4,000 years! But the first records of chocolate go back to 900 BCE.
Here’s the image from the previous meme, only not covered up by captions.
I don’t know how to pronounce it, but it’s a lovely name! Also, The Mayans didn’t have access to sugar cane, so this drink had a more savory flavor to it.
These were the ingredients that the mesoamerican civilizations used to make xocolatl.
Source: https://historydaily.org/xocolatl-the-mayan-food-of-the-gods
Here’s the image from the previous meme, only not covered up by captions.
The ancient Mayans had never heard of God of Abraham. However, they had their own pantheon of religious figures that they were extremely devoted to. Some of their practices of devotion involved mixing a chocolate beverage to use as a blessing water for marriages and baptisms.
It was a matter of supply and demand. The supply was not as abundant with the Mayans, but the demand for it was pretty high.
The Mayans also used cacao beans as currency, but since anyone could drink it, it was simpler to barter (to my understanding).
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Because it was more difficult for the Aztecs to obtain, having cacao beans as currency meant you were somebody important in society – nobility or a priest.
I was not quite sure on the Atzec practices of human sacrifice. What I could gather said this:
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The Aztecs would take a male slave in good condition as a sacrifice to their god, Quetzalcoatl. For forty days, the slave was treated like a God, and locked in a cage at night to keep them from escaping.
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On the day of their sacrifice, they were to dance in joy of their demise. If they didn’t, they were given a gourd of the xocolatl to MAKE him happy.
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There were mentions of other types of sacrifices, where the sacrifice was given the beverage before a heart extraction. But I was too uncomfortable with the extremely violent depiction to post an image of it. I am also not entirely sure how factual that really is (though it could be – the Aztecs were a violently religious group of people).
Originally, the Spanish were hesitant to take the chocolate with them, because they found the flavor to be disgusting. However, when they did, the monks in Europe found a way to sweeten it with cane sugar. Then it became a major success!
They had to import it from thousands of miles away. This was not a cheap drink, by any means.
To my understanding, chocolate houses were extremely popular meeting places for nobility to discuss business, and for noblewomen to convene. It was a social hub for the filthy rich of Colonial Europe.
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EDIT: I want to add an important note. The history of chocolate is blood-stained and dark. The wealthy of Europe were sipping their sweet chocolate drinks from sugar cane that was produced by enslaved Africans.
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I decided to focus entirely on the food for length purposes. However, it is a disservice to not mention it at all, and I apologize for that.
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Chocolate came to be from the exploitation of the enslaved. I need to make that abundantly clear. This is NOT an innocent tale.
Here’s the image from the previous meme, only not covered up by captions.
George Washington was said to enjoy hot chocolate immensely!
A chocolate company in England, JS Fry & Sons, LTD, produced the first solid chocolate bar. Link: http://www.candyhistory.net/candy-origin/candy-bars-history/
Soldiers during World Wars 1 and 2 were given chocolate rations both as a morale boost, and because it had a certain amount of caffeine that gave it a “stimulating effect,” though I am not sure if it was enough to be much use to them. I imagine it served more as a moment of comfort in such a terrible situation.
Thanks, Hershey’s! 😀
This was fun to read about. I hoped you enjoy it too. The only downside is that I want chocolate now, and I don’t have any. 🙁