Have you ever wondered how one of the most desired candy was made,chocolate, who invented it, and the history of chocolate? Well, instead of satisfying your tummy, this will hopefully satisfy your curiosity.

Hi, World as you may have already guessed I am a big chocolate fan. Probably, like all of you! Today I will be bringing you through everything you need to know about chocolate. Soooooooooooooooo, let’s get started!

Chocolate was invented in mesoamerica, in about 1500 B.C, It was invented by Mayans. The first type of chocolate was actually a hot drink, kind of like hot chocolate but bitter and with foam at the top. It’s called Xocolatl. The Mayans thought that the cacao plant was a godly food that was given to them by a god that was a serpent, called Kukulcán, the god of calendars and books.

Let me take you on the fascinating journey that is the history of chocolate! Just, hop into the time machine and… weeeeeeeeeeeee! When Herman Cortez (An conquistador) visited Mesoamerica. Heman Cortezes Lieutenant wrote that the king got fifty jugs of Xocolatl a day that were poured into golden cups. When the Spaniards went back to Spain. They brought back some cacao beans. It was bitter so it cured upset stomachs, but to sweeten it they used vanilla, sugar, and honey.

 And so quickly it became very popular. But soon after chocolate would change forever in 1828 when the cacao press was born. That separated the cacao butter and the cacao paste, and added together it would make the chocolate that we know today. Then in 1836 a legend was born! A swiss chocolatier named Daniel Peters added power that made the first milk chocolate. So say thanks to Peters the next time that delicious milky goodness slips down your throat! a powder that made milk chocolate. Now to jump out of the time machine… 

Now that we are in present time, have you ever wondered about the disastrous day when chocolate runs out? Well I have! (Shudder) Rather than dwelling on that, let me tell you about how to make your own chocolate., Making chocolate has four steps: fermenting, drying/roasting, grinding, and heating and molding. First you have to cut open cacao fruit, Oh, and the inside is very gross. There is a white skin on the actual bean. Now to ferment! You put the beans in a jar.

Press the beans together, then close the jar. You have to wait for about a week. On the fourth day put some paper towels on the jar and wait for a couple days. Put all of the beans on a tray and put it in a dehydrating oven for twenty four hours. Now it’s time to roast the beans, put it in a regular oven at 312 degrees fahrenheit for five minutes then lower the temperature to 275 degrees fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Then, let the beans cool for about two hours. Once they are done cooking you can take off the shell, and let the chocolate aroma envelope you in a warm delicious hug.

Then put the beans in a jar, just make sure that there is not any shell left. Put the beans in a morsel and pestle and grind up the beans into this powder. Put the cacao beans in a bowl, add sugar and mix. If you want milk chocolate add milk powder. Then add 30 grams of Cocoa butter, melt it, and you guessed it… mix. Put it over some boiling water on the stove and once it’s ready it should look like a liquidy brown paste. Okay, now this is one of the hardest parts: put a good piece of dark chocolate in the bowl. Try not to eat it! And then, stir until it is fully melted. Pour it in a silicone mold. We are almost done!

 

Put it in the fridge overnight, take the mold off. Now, To solve the mystery , how does it taste? 

 

 The hardest step, do not eat it in one sitting!

 

Now that we have our delicious chocolate. I DEFINITELY promise I haven’t eaten it all … he he he…well maybe a second batch is cooling in the fridge right now…I can’t confirm or deny… I am passing the chocolate baton to you! Go make the chocolate, go learn about the Mayans and ENJOY!