More Chocolate Thoughts from Chef Steve!

Hungry for more chocolate history? We thought so. Chef Steven Keneipp shares more about chocolate's decadent past! If you've been keeping up with our blog so far, this will be a nice, quick review, but you will also find some brand new information that we are sure you'll find quite satisfying. If this is your first time reading about this decadent history, you're in for a treat! Either way, you'll be an expert by the time you're done reading.

A single bite into a piece of chocolate can magically conjure up thoughts of history, civilization, exotic origins, and most importantly, deliciousness.

Cacao is the seed from which chocolate is produced and it was the cultures of Mexico, Central America, and other areas in Mesoamerica that discovered and utilized it as a beverage since its use had begun almost three thousand years ago. The Aztecs made a drink called "chocolatl" that Montezuma served to Cortez in 1519. There was no sugar in this New World elixir and it was based with water and ground cacao beans that was then flavored with spicy peppers, allspice, vanilla and ground, dried corn. The Spanish did not particularly like it and found it bitter and rather unpleasant. When it was taken back to Spain, sugar was added to the beverage as well as every imaginable ingredient that included cloves, rose oil, cinnamon, and even ambergris. And just as the drink had been reserved for the Aztec royals, so too was it for the aristocracy of Spain for almost one hundred years before it finally traveled to other elite sipping circles in Europe.

Amazingly, it was only in the early part of the 19th century that the English first produced a rather coarse eating chocolate. And it was not until the mid 1850's that better quality chocolate was created by Cadbury in England. The Swiss added milk to it in the 1870's and also developed manufacturing techniques that produced "fondant" that melted quickly in the mouth. Milton Hershey, an American, created his first candy bar in 1894. Chocolate's popularity increased and became more affordable throughout the world in the beginning of the 20th century. It accompanied soldiers in wars and traveled to school in children's lunchboxes and remained as one of the most popular ways to express affection. As we begin the 21st millennium, chocolate continues to be refined, rethought, and rediscovered.

So the next time you eat a piece of chocolate, allow the warmth of your mouth to slowly melt it while savoring its smoothness, its sweetness and its flavor. Let your mind think of its long journeyed history and evolution....it can be quite a delicious adventure!

-Chef Steve