Chocolate

Matthew Rice

The bean

• Chocolate is made from coca beans that have been dried in the sun, crushed and combined with sugar, and or milk. It originated in Latina and South America. The Spanish conquistadors and Jesuit priest made note of it as a drink that the natives would consume that had a bitter flavor and was an acquired taste.

• Christopher Columbus brought some coca beans to Ferdinand and Isabella of spain. But it was Spanish friars that circulated it more broadly

In Europe

• The first commercial shipment was from Veracruz to Sevillia in 1585.

• It was initially used as a beverage, in south America, served with a chili and was bitter.

In Europe (II)

• When it came to Europe they removed the chili and added vanilla, as well as milk and sugar to counteract the bitter taste.

• By the 17th century it was a luxury item to the Europeans.

• At the end of the 18th century the first solid chocolate was invented in Turin eventually leading to the creation of the chocolate bar. Joseph Fry is supposedly the first to have created the chocolate bar followed by the Cadbury brothers

Modern

• today nearly 50 million people make a living off of chocolate mostly people in Africa.

• Prices fluctuate on a yearly basis £500 to £3000 a ton

• Used today for many holidays and is made into all kinds of shapes.