Why was chocolate kept a secret for 100 years?

Chocolate was kept a secret by the Spanish court for almost a hundred years. Because cacao and sugar were expensive imports, only those with money could afford to drink chocolate. In fact, in France, chocolate was a state monopoly that could be consumed only by members of the royal court.

How was chocolate used for medicine?

During the U.S. Civil War, injured soldiers were given chocolate when available, presumably to help keep their energy up and again help them gain weight. Like the Aztecs, European doctors used chocolate to help deliver drugs—some less savory than others.

Why was cacao used as medicine?

Since ancient times cacao has been used as a medicine to heal physical, mental and spiritual illnesses. Cacao has been shown to boost the immune system and lower cholesterol and blood pressure as well as leading to euphoria and deeper spiritual connection.

How did Aztecs drink chocolate?

Did Mayans drink hot chocolate? In 1500BC, Mayans enjoyed making a type of drinking chocolate with water, cocoa beans, cornmeal and chili. It was rich, bitter and usually served cold. They made it frothy by pouring it back and forth between cups.

What are the negative effects of chocolate?

But keep in mind that cocoa contains caffeine and related chemicals. Eating large amounts might cause caffeine-related side effects such as nervousness, increased urination, sleeplessness, and a fast heartbeat. Cocoa can cause allergic skin reactions, constipation, and might trigger migraine headaches.

What are the disadvantages of chocolate?

The Disadvantages of Eating Chocolate

• High Calorie Content. Chocolate has a high calorie content.
• High Saturated Fat Content. Chocolate also has a high saturated fat content.
• High Sugar Content. Chocolate is loaded with sugar.
• Low in Vitamins and Minerals. Chocolate has few beneficial nutrients.

Is cacao a spiritual?

Cacao opens your heart, the gateway to hear your inner spirit and wisdom. You will experience the world of meditation at a higher spiritual level. Choosing to live with cacao means you are bringing peace to your mind and soul daily.

Did Aztecs use chocolate as money?

Cacao Beans as Currency The Aztecs took chocolate admiration to another level. They believed cacao was given to them by their gods. Like the Mayans, they enjoyed the caffeinated kick of hot or cold, spiced chocolate beverages in ornate containers, but they also used cacao beans as currency to buy food and other goods.

Who was the first person to use chocolate as medicine?

Having acquired a degree in medicine and served a Jesuit mission in the colonies, Colmenero was as close as one could come to a European expert on the pharmaceutical qualities of the cacao bean.

When did chocolate first become popular in Europe?

Chocolate has not always been the common confectionary we experience today. When it first arrived from the Americas into Europe in the 17th century, it was a rare and mysterious substance, thought of more as a drug than as food. Christine Jones traces the history and literature of its reception.

What kind of beans are in Nibble chocolate?

OUR NEWEST BAR MADE WITH SINGLE ORGIN CACAO AND COFFEE BEANS FROM BRAZIL. SMOOTH, CREAMY, JUST PERFECT.

How did Colmenero introduce chocolate to Europe as a drug?

Classified as medical literature in libraries today, Colmenero’s work introduced chocolate to Europe as a drug by appealing to the science of the humors, or essential bodily fluids. “Humoralism,” a theory of health and illness inherited from Hippocrates and Galen, was still influential in 1630.