Cocoa is one of those ingredients we often take for granted today, with many of us enjoying delicious treats and beverages made from cocoa without actually considering how it got there. However, this product is an exceptionally versatile, complex, and delicious ingredient with an equally rich and wonderful history. That’s why, today, we’re looking at the story and origins of this fruit that you may not have ever known.

What are the Origins of Cocoa?

The origins of cocoa are often misunderstood, and while so many of us love a bar of delicious chocolate, we often don’t know the tale behind it. In fact, cocoa has been cultivated for thousands of years, and ancient civilizations such as the Mayans and the Aztecs have been found to have used cocoa plants in South American history.

Of course, the earliest cultivators of cocoa didn’t have quite the same understanding of it as we do; as such, ancient cocoa beverages and snacks were often very bitter in ancient times. In fact, it wasn’t until the Spanish arrived in South America and discovered these amazing ingredients that the world learned a new way to enjoy cocoa drinks and snacks: sweetened with spices and sugar! To put this concept in perspective, imagine eating a bar of 100% pure dark chocolate – that’s not a flavor for the faint-hearted!

A Closely Guarded Spanish Secret

One of the complexities of the international rollout of cocoa and cocoa-based products was the fact that the Spanish kept their new cocoa-based recipes and ideas a secret. Since the Spanish wouldn’t let other cultures know about their unique processing methods and recipes for around a century, it was a long time before the rest of the world was able to begin adding their own twists to cocoa, too.

Cocoa spread widely throughout Europe after Spain’s discovery of it in South America. It became especially popular and sought-after among royal courts in France and England.

An Exclusive Product

The incredible rarity of cocoa for much of its history meant that chocolate was an incredibly exclusive product for a long time after the origins of cocoa in Europe. In fact, it wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution that steam power transformed how we worked with cocoa, making it more widely available to the public.

This also tied in with Joseph Fry’s discovery of adding cocoa butter to cocoa powder, which further helped increase the affordability and appeal of chocolate.

Now, we are lucky to enjoy chocolate in many different forms. As the Mayans believed, premium chocolate truly does feel like it’s worth more than gold!  

The story of the history and origins of cocoa is a long and complex one. And while we often consider cocoa and chocolate a recent innovation, the reality is that people have been cultivating and working with cocoa for centuries. In fact, even the Aztec and Mayan cultures knew the benefits and uses of cocoa.  

As such, the next time you sit down with a cup of hot chocolate or a chocolate bar, just take a moment to consider the amazing history and origins of cocoa. It’s a far more complex and magical tale than many of us realize!