Chocolates, rich in taste, rich in history, rich in quotes. In the same manner that chocolates are rich in both taste and appearance, they are also known to have a very rich history and lots of I love chocolate quotes.
“Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands – and then eat just one of the pieces” – Judith Viorst.
Chocolates for Centuries
For hundred of years, chocolates have been an integral part of the history of countless countries. And through those years, chocolates had several uses in the society. They were used as a type of money the early people could use when trading, buying or selling. Aside from being a currency, chocolates were also popularly known as indulgent drinks exclusive and available only to royalty. Today, people from all over the world enjoy chocolates which are presented in various kinds of forms and continue to play an essential role in many cultures.
“Take chocolate in order that even the most tiresome company seems acceptable to you.” Madame de Sevigne, sometime in 1672.
Mayans’ Discovery of Crops and Wild Trees Ignited Discovery of Chocolates
The history of chocolates started out when archeologists discovered that the people Mayans planted and grew crops and wild trees in the Yucatan area of Central America during the 7th century A.D. The very pioneer trees that they were able to grow were the cocoa trees that cultivated in the hot and tropical rainforests situated within the Amazon and Orinoco basins about 4,000 years ago.
In fact, the scientific name for the cacao tree is Theobroma cacao — “food of the gods.” There are depicts of chocolate being poured for rulers and gods on Maya murals and ceramics.
“What use are cartridges in battle? I always carry chocolate instead.” – George Bernard Shaw
Chocolates as a Currency Used in Trading and Barter
In fact, historians have confirmed evidence that cocoa beans were initially used as a form of disbursement or expense. During those early times, another equally important role of chocolates is as a unit of calculating goods or items during the 1000 A.D. When people trade or buy or sell merchandise or goods, they used chocolates for trading and bartering in lieu of the money that we enjoy paying for goods during the modern times.
“Chemically speaking, chocolate really is the world’s perfect food.” Michael Levine, nutrition researcher, as quoted in The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars.
Paying Taxes with Chocolates or Cocoa Beans
And immediately after that period when chocolates were being used as currencies, even all their taxes, they had to pay in cocoa beans to Feudal Aztecs. And after hundreds of years, the first peoples who are now presently called the “Indians”, prepared delectable chocolate drinks by brewing the cocoa beans to form a thick pasty mixture and eventually garnished with some roasted pieces of cocoa beans.
“It’s not that chocolates are a substitute for love. Love is a substitute for chocolate. Chocolate is, let’s face it, far more reliable than a man.” – Miranda Ingram.
Spicing up Beverages with Chocolates
Adding water and various spices like vanilla as well as cinnamon, pepper and other strong condiments, these chocolates became a luxurious and classy, expensive yet very accepted beverage enjoyed exclusively by royalty and Kings. While the poor and economically challenged who till the lands growing and cultivating cocoa beans, are restricted from drinking the beverage. They are given allocation of the chocolates to be used as flavor for their boiled corn; however, very sparingly.
“Twill make Old Women Young and Fresh.
Create New Motions of the Flesh.
And cause them long for you know what, If they but taste of chocolate.”
from “A History of the Nature and Quality of Chocolate”, James Wadworth (1768-1844).
Cocoa A Divine Drink to the Early Peoples
Cocoa or chocolate drink was considered a beverage exclusive for the drinking consumption of the male elite and as a matter of fact, during the Aztec Emperor Montezuma’s regime, they called the chocolate drink, the “divine” beverage, which they believed could build up a man’s resistance and fight off stress or fatigue. In 1480 until 1520, Aztec Emperor Montezuma was even quoted saying this:
“A cup of this precious drink permits a man to walk for a whole day without food.”
Truly, chocolates and chocolate drinks alike have been a well-loved and well-admired naturally grown commodity not only in the early years or olden times, or the modern times, but all throughout chocolates’ history!
And finally,
“Life is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re going to get.” – Forrest Gump in “Forrest Gump” (1994).
