CHOCOLATE DELIGHTBecome a Chocolate Expertby Roland DuvallChocolate has been revered by the people of the Earth since the beginning of time. Historical records show that we've been consuming chocolate for more than 4,000 years. Cacao is native to the South Americas and the Amazonian Jungles and was transported to West Africa in the 1500s. It was so precious to the Aztecs of Ancient Mexico, that they used cacao beans for their main currency….Gold was used for aesthetic purposes only! Cacao was originally consumed as a beverage. It is still used in this way in many cultures, especially in South America.Whether baked as chips into a cookie, melted into a sweet warm drink or molded into the shape of a smiling bunny, chocolate is one of the world's most universally consumed foods.No matter if it's enjoyed as creamy milk chocolate truffles, baked in a devilishly dark chocolate cake or even poured as hot cocoa, Americans on average consume almost 20 pounds (9 kilograms) of chocolate in a year.Theobroma Cacao is the Latin name for chocolate and means "Food of the Gods". As one of the most Sacred foods on the Planet, it has won the hearts of more people than any other food. There is a mystery to chocolate… its dark brown/purple color, its sensual texture, its potent bittersweet flavor, and complete nutritional profile has inspired everything from love and poetry, to robust heart health and strength to people from across the continents.
