Long before chocolate was introduced in Europe, America and the rest of the world, it had already become popular among the ancient Mayans and Aztecs, two ancient civilizations that continue to baffle us to date for their ingenuity and inventions.
The Mayan people ground the cacao seeds and mixed them with water to make a bitter and foamy drink for its kings and nobleman. The men of status consumed the drink from grand vessels. Mayans-Aztecs-used-chocolate-as-currencyThe Aztecs added other flavorings to their bitter liquid chocolate, such as vanilla, chili, maize and flowers. Typically, the drink was poured from above to create a frothy liquid and served at a cool temperature. It is even said that the cacao liquid was so powerful, whoever drank a cup of it could walk for a whole day without eating anything else.
The ancient Aztec and Maya cultures used cacao as currency. The plant’s seeds that grew so readily in the lowlands were extremely valuable in the drier climates. They were also used as gifts and tributes to emperors and as offerings in religious ceremonies when transformed to liquid. Baskets of cacao, maize and feathers were traded in the market and used as a reference for measurement. The chocolate was not just used as a drink for the noble men or currency; the two cultures understood its medicinal properties as well.
The Mayan people ground the cacao seeds and mixed them with water to make a bitter and foamy drink for its kings and nobleman. The men of status consumed the drink from grand vessels. Mayans-Aztecs-used-chocolate-as-currencyThe Aztecs added other flavorings to their bitter liquid chocolate, such as vanilla, chili, maize and flowers. Typically, the drink was poured from above to create a frothy liquid and served at a cool temperature. It is even said that the cacao liquid was so powerful, whoever drank a cup of it could walk for a whole day without eating anything else.
The ancient Aztec and Maya cultures used cacao as currency. The plant’s seeds that grew so readily in the lowlands were extremely valuable in the drier climates. They were also used as gifts and tributes to emperors and as offerings in religious ceremonies when transformed to liquid. Baskets of cacao, maize and feathers were traded in the market and used as a reference for measurement. The chocolate was not just used as a drink for the noble men or currency; the two cultures understood its medicinal properties as well.
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