Originating in Central America more than 4,000 years ago the cacao tree has been cultivated by man for more that 1,000 years. Believing that the seeds were a heavenly gift from paradise the Mayans and Aztecs were very fond of the tree. They both used cacao as currency (100 beans had a value of one slave.) Also the cacao was used in commerce and religion.
Chocolate was one of the earliest American exports. Early in the 16th century, Cortez brought cacao beans to Spain. The Spaniards were known to have added cinnamon and sugar to the
bitter drink.The cacao trees are now grown in equatorial regions of Asia and Africa as well as the Americas.
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