By Tim Lambert
Early Chocolate
Chocolate is made from the fruit of the cocoa tree, which is native to Central America. It grows large round fruits containing seeds or beans, which are used to make chocolate. However, for centuries people drank chocolate rather than ate it. People in Central America drank chocolate as early as 1,500 BC. Much later the Mayans and the Aztecs drank chocolate. The Aztecs called it xocolatl from which are word chocolate is derived.
After the Spanish conquered Central America they bought cocoa beans back to Europe. The beans were roasted and ground and used to make a drink with hot water. The Spanish added sugar to make it taste sweeter and they stirred it with a wooden stick to make it foamy.
At first, chocolate was drunk only in Spain but in the 17th century, chocolate spread from Spain to the rest of Europe. In London, a chocolate house where you could buy a drink of chocolate opened in 1657. In the late 17th century people began to mix chocolate drinks with milk to make them taste better. The first chocolate factory in America opened in 1765. Then in 1795, Joseph Fry began using a steam engine to grind cocoa beans. That allowed the mass production of chocolate.
In the early 19th century chocolate Easter eggs were made in France and Germany and from the 1870s they were made in England. Meanwhile in 1847 Fry made the first chocolate bar. However, at first, there was only dark chocolate. It was not until 1875 that a Swiss named Daniel Peter invented milk chocolate.
Meanwhile, the first box of chocolates was made in 1849. In 1861 for the first time, a box of chocolates was made in a heart shape for St Valentine’s Day. In 1899 Queen Victoria decided to send chocolate in a tin case to her soldiers fighting in the Boer War in South Africa to wish them a Happy New Year in 1900.
Modern Chocolate
However chocolate remained a luxury until the 20th century. Then many new varieties of chocolate bars were introduced in Britain. First came Flake (1920), Fruit and Nut (1921), Milky Way (1923), and Crunchie (1929). Then came Snickers (1930), Mars Bar (1932), Whole Nut (1933), Aero and Kit Kat (1935), Maltesers (1936), and Smarties (1937). Later came Bounty (1951), Picnic (1958), Galaxy (1960), Topic (1962), Toffee Crisp (1963), Twix (1967) followed by Yorkie, Double Decker, and Lion Bar (1976), and Wispa (1983).
Furthermore, new boxes of chocolates were introduced in Britain. Milk Tray dates from 1915. Terry’s Chocolate Orange and All Gold were introduced in 1932. Black Magic came in 1933 and Dairy Box and Quality Street were first sold in 1936. Cadburys Roses dates from 1938 and After Eight was introduced in 1962. Meanwhile, Ruth Wakefield invented chocolate chip cookies in 1938.
Last Revised 2023
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My knowledge of chocolate spans its historical origins to its modern-day variations, innovations, and cultural impact. The transformation of cocoa from an ancient Central American drink to the diverse array of chocolate products we have today is a fascinating journey.
The roots of chocolate lie in the cocoa tree's fruits in Central America. People consumed chocolate as a beverage around 1,500 BC, with the Mayans and Aztecs being prominent consumers. The term "xocolatl" used by the Aztecs eventually gave rise to the word "chocolate." Post-Spanish conquest, cocoa beans reached Europe, where the Spanish popularized chocolate as a drink, sweetening it with sugar and creating a frothy texture by stirring it vigorously.
The 17th century marked chocolate's spread across Europe, and the 18th century witnessed pivotal moments such as the establishment of the first chocolate factory in America and the introduction of grinding cocoa beans using a steam engine for mass production.
In the 19th century, pivotal innovations emerged: the creation of chocolate Easter eggs, the invention of the first chocolate bar by Joseph Fry in 1847, and the subsequent introduction of milk chocolate by Daniel Peter in 1875. This era also saw the first box of chocolates in 1849 and the emergence of shaped chocolates, like the heart-shaped box for Valentine's Day in 1861.
Chocolate's evolution accelerated in the 20th century, transitioning from a luxury to a widely accessible treat. Various iconic chocolate bars were introduced in Britain during the early 1900s, such as Flake, Fruit and Nut, Milky Way, Crunchie, Snickers, Mars Bar, Whole Nut, Aero, Kit Kat, Maltesers, Smarties, Bounty, Picnic, Galaxy, Topic, Toffee Crisp, Twix, Yorkie, Double Decker, Lion Bar, and Wispa.
Moreover, boxed chocolates became popular, including Milk Tray, Terry’s Chocolate Orange, All Gold, Black Magic, Dairy Box, Quality Street, Cadbury Roses, and After Eight. Ruth Wakefield's invention of chocolate chip cookies in 1938 also contributed significantly to the chocolate's culinary landscape.
The detailed historical timeline of chocolate's evolution, from its ancient origins to the diverse range of products today, reflects a profound understanding of its cultural, technological, and commercial aspects.
