Chocolate’s earliest known use dates to around 1900 BCE with the Olmec civilization in Mesoamerica. They created a bitter ceremonial drink from fermented and ground cacao beans, a tradition continued by the Maya and Aztecs, who also used cacao in rituals and as currency. Chocolate was originally a sacred, unsweetened beverage with deep cultural meaning.
Chocolate Arrives in Europe in 1550
World Chocolate Day (July 7th) marks the year 1550, when cacao was first introduced to Europe by Spanish explorers. Sweetened to suit European tastes, it quickly became popular among the elite. This moment marked the beginning of chocolate’s transformation into the beloved treat we know today.
The Quaker Chocolate Legacy
In the 1800s, British Quaker families like the Frys, Cadburys, and Rowntrees became leading chocolatiers. As Quakers they were barred from many professions, they saw chocolate as a moral alternative to alcohol. They pioneered ethical business, worker welfare, and innovations like the first modern chocolate bar (1847, Fry’s), laying foundations for the modern chocolate industry.
Iwood Health, Wrington 