On Xocoatl

I got you on the title right? But it is actually nothing that fancy. Or is it?

"Xocoatl"is the Aztec word to what the etymologists traced the word chocolate to have originated from. It translates to "bitter water" and refers to a bitter drink brewed from cacao beans which The Olmec, one of the earliest civilizations in Latin America, used to drink during rituals and believed to have medicinal properties. Centuries later, the Mayans praised chocolate as the drink of the gods which derives from the latin name for the cacao tree Theobroma Cacao meaning "food of the gods".

Chocolate was a trendy drink for rich europeans throughout the 18th century, but when and where was the actual birthplace of chocolate? Archaeologists trace it back to 5,300 years ago in the upper Amazon region of Ecuador where they discovered the earliest traces of cacao in pottery used by the ancient Mayo-Chinchipe culture.

Some time later in history, the Spanish adopted the Mesoamerican drink as their own, by adding a touch of flavoring spices such as cinnamon, vanilla and cane sugar. But even then it was a delicacy only available to royalty and the elite, because at that time chocolate was considered a symbol of luxury, power, and wealth. It wasn't until The Industrial Revolution that chocolate was allowed to be mass-produced and the luxurious treat was brought to the masses.

Cocoa seeds are fruit?

Good news for all the chocoholics out there, vocabulary experts haven't yet been able to pin down the word to one side of the dictionary. Being a fruit-bearing plant, the cocoa tree is very much similar to an apple tree. Chocolate then, since it comes from the seeds or nibs of the cacao tree, goes through the heavy process of being roasted and ground to produce a paste called chocolate liquor. Therefore, the cocoa seeds, chocolate's main ingredient, are considered a fruit!

Other ingredients that chocolate contains are:

• Cocoa Butter: Which is the natural fat from the cocoa bean; extra cocoa butter enhances chocolate's flavor and mouthfeel.

• Sugar.

Now with a slightly clear conscience let's find our way through a list of countries that are considered the masters in making good-quality chocolate:

• Belgium, there are more than 2,000 throughout the country!

• Switzerland, Even if you haven't been to Switzerland, you've probably had Swiss chocolate. It comes as little surprise that Swiss people consume the most chocolate per capita of any country worldwide

• Ecuador

• United Kingdom

• Ivory Coast, which is the largest cocoa producer of the world with more than 2 million tons every year.

• Italy

• United States

Although the cocoa plant is not native to Africa and was introduced to our continent over 100 years ago from South America, Africa now dominates the global supply of cocoa. We can say that Africa is considered the world's chocolate factory.

Chocolate contains phenylethylamine, which is also a neurotransmitter and has been shown to increase feelings of well-being. So not only does chocolate taste good, but it can also make you happy!

Dark chocolate is best for you because it's the least processed chocolate, which means it contains the highest percentage of flavonoid-filled cocoa bean (cocoa) and is a great source of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. It can help improve mood and cognitive function as well as help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.

Chocolate is the perfect way to celebrate any occasion. No matter what, nothing beats a delicious chocolate treat. Plus, it's a classic that never goes out of style. So why not try a new chocolate flavor today?