Ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, such as the Mayans and Aztecs, were instrumental in the development of modern chocolate production. These civilizations were the first to cultivate cacao trees and use the beans to make chocolate. They also developed many of the techniques and tools used in modern chocolate production, such as roasting and grinding the beans to create a creamy texture. Today, many chocolate factories in Cozumel continue to honor these ancient traditions in their chocolate-making process.