Sweet Chocolate Facts from Around the World!
Chocolate comes from a tree called cacao (say: “cuh-COW”) that grows near the Equator, where it’s warm and sunny all year. The trees have bright yellow pods about a foot long. Inside are little seeds that we use to make chocolate! At first, the seeds don’t taste sweet—they’re bitter. But long ago, people figured out how to turn them into delicious drinks and treats.
Let’s take a tasty trip around the world and through history to see how chocolate became everyone’s favorite treat!
3300 B.C.
Ecuador, South America
The Mayo-Chinchipe people were the first to use cacao. They lived in the area we now call Ecuador, in South America. Archaeologists found old tools and containers with traces of cacao. We don’t know if they drank it or ate it, but they loved it!
Around 1800 B.C.
Mexico & Central America
The Olmec people lived in what is now Mexico and Central America. They used cacao seeds to make warm drinks. Some think they discovered this by roasting the seeds in fire—it smelled so good!
Around the 8th Century A.D.
Mesoamerica
The Maya people also lived in Mexico and Central America. They even used cocoa beans as money! People even made fake clay beans to trick others.
1500s
Mexico & Spain
The Aztecs, who lived in central Mexico, loved cacao drinks. They mixed it with chili to make it spicy! When Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés came, he saw the Aztec king Moctezuma II drink 50 cups of chocolate every day. Cortés brought chocolate back to Spain, where sugar was added to make it sweet.
1600s–1700s
Europe
Chocolate became popular in Europe. People went to chocolate houses (like coffee shops) to meet friends. Even soldiers drank chocolate to stay warm during wars!
1847
England
Chocolate makers in England made the first chocolate bars by adding extra cacao butter. Later, they added milk to make milk chocolate.
Late 1800s
Switzerland
Chocolate was still a little rough until Rodolphe Lindt in Switzerland invented conching, stirring chocolate until it was smooth and melted in your mouth.
Early 1900s
Around the World
Chocolate became cheaper and was no longer just for rich people. Stores everywhere started selling chocolate bars for everyone to enjoy.
Today
The Whole World!
Chocolate is everywhere! You can find it in grocery stores, candy shops, and even on the runway at the Salon du Chocolate in Paris, France, where models wear dresses made completely of chocolate. (Don’t eat the dress—though it smells amazing!)
3300 B.C.
Ecuador, South America
The Mayo-Chinchipe people were the first to use cacao. They lived in the area we now call Ecuador, in South America. Archaeologists found old tools and containers with traces of cacao. We don’t know if they drank it or ate it, but they loved it!
Around 1800 B.C.
Mexico & Central America
The Olmec people lived in what is now Mexico and Central America. They used cacao seeds to make warm drinks. Some think they discovered this by roasting the seeds in fire—it smelled so good!
Around the 8th Century A.D.
Mesoamerica
The Maya people also lived in Mexico and Central America. They even used cocoa beans as money! People even made fake clay beans to trick others.
1500s
Mexico & Spain
The Aztecs, who lived in central Mexico, loved cacao drinks. They mixed it with chili to make it spicy! When Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés came, he saw the Aztec king Moctezuma II drink 50 cups of chocolate every day. Cortés brought chocolate back to Spain, where sugar was added to make it sweet.
1600s–1700s
Europe
Chocolate became popular in Europe. People went to chocolate houses (like coffee shops) to meet friends. Even soldiers drank chocolate to stay warm during wars!
1847
England
Chocolate makers in England made the first chocolate bars by adding extra cacao butter. Later, they added milk to make milk chocolate.
Late 1800s
Switzerland
Chocolate was still a little rough until Rodolphe Lindt in Switzerland invented conching, stirring chocolate until it was smooth and melted in your mouth.
Early 1900s
Around the World
Chocolate became cheaper and was no longer just for rich people. Stores everywhere started selling chocolate bars for everyone to enjoy.
Today
The Whole World!
Chocolate is everywhere! You can find it in grocery stores, candy shops, and even on the runway at the Salon du Chocolate in Paris, France, where models wear dresses made completely of chocolate. (Don’t eat the dress—though it smells amazing!)
Let’s Keep In Touch!
Subscribe for magical stories, events, printable activities, and special surprises for kids, parents, and teachers!
