Only the highest and wealthiest members of the two tribes were allowed to partake of the cocoa bean which was considered the ultimate in status symbols. It is written that both tribes actually used the cocoa bean as their currency. Some of the members of the tribe who were lucky enough to have a large number of the beans would make a type of cocoa or chocolate drink that was thought to contain magical powers and bestow power and wisdom. In the late 1500s Christopher Columbus discovered the secret of the cocoa beans when he visited the Aztec and Mayan cultures. Ultimately the Spanish people tinkered with the original cocoa beans adding sugar to create a type of chocolate similar to what we have in modern times.
Chocolate is as popular today as it was when it was first discovered.
It is estimated that 10-12 pounds of chocolate is consumed annually by people in the United States. It is also estimated that Europeans tend to eat as much as double the amount of chocolate that Americans consume. As Ever Chocolate is not only a food but a fabulous color. It is also valued for its aromatic properties. The 21st century ushered in a new age of chocolate where you could buy chocolate colored nail polish, cocoa colored eye shadows, lipsticks and hair colors.