Chocolate Through the Years

September 24, 2024

Easy access to a little snack of chocolate is something we take for granted. It's in all shops and our cupboards, and quite frankly, what would life be without it?! In the past, however, chocolate wasn't so easy to get hold of and was considered a luxury. There's a rich history in every bite of the delicious chocolate bar and every chocolate hamper - and we're here to tell you all about it.

In the modern era, we enjoy hot chocolate, dedicated chocolate houses at Christmas, chocolate Easter egg, white chocolate, and so much more - but this hasn't always been the case.

The Origin of Chocolate

Believe it or not, the history of chocolate starts in Mesoamerica - bet you’ve never heard of it? Neither had we! It’s a historical region in Central America and South America. Some fermented beverages made from chocolate, or more precisely from cacao beans, are dated as far back as 450 BC. People in that region believed cacao seeds were a gift from the gods. The Ancient Maya and Aztecs also believed chocolate to be an aphrodisiac.

Mayan chocolate was popular, particularly among the high classes, and it was consumed as a bitter beverage, often mixed with corn puree, spices, and even egg yolks.

This early form of drinking chocolate was not the sweet treat we know today but rather a rich, liquid concoction.

Chocolate's Journey to Europe

The modern history of chocolate begins when Christopher Columbus brought cacao beans back from the New World in 1492. A Spanish Ship of explorers soon introduced these cacao beans to the Spanish court, and by 1565, the first chocolate drink reached Europe. We’re pretty sure it’s been enjoyed ever since!

The first true dark chocolate was created in 1606 when Antonio Carletti discovered chocolate in Spain. He took it to Italy, where cioccolatieri (chocolatiers) began creating delightful chocolate confections. Chocolate became so popular that even Maria Theresa gifted her fiancé with pure chocolate. In 1631, the first chocolate recipe was published by a Spanish doctor named Antonio Colmenero de Ledesma, based on the original Aztec recipe, but with some additions like cane sugar.

When it first became popular, a London Coffee House called At The Coffee Mill and Tobacco Roll was a popular place for chocolate to be served, in this time, chocolate consumption was reserved for the rich.

The first chocolate factory was set up in Bristol, England, using hydraulic machinery to process cacao beans. In 1732, Monsieur Dubuisson invented a table mill to grind chocolate properly. However, it wasn't until 1877 that the first chocolate bar was created.

A significant step towards modern chocolate was made by Francois Louis Callier in 1819 when he opened the first Swiss chocolate factory. Later, in 1828 (the industrial revolution), Coenraad Van Houten invented the chocolate press (also known as the cocoa press), which helped lower the fat content of chocolate, making chocolate making easier. It could squeeze cocoa butter from cocoa beans and leave a fine cocoa powder. This innovation led to the first pressed chocolate tablets in 1840, created by a company named Berwaerts.

In the late 1800s, Henri Nestle and Daniel Peter (a Swiss chocolatier) invented milk chocolate by combining chocolate with milk, creating a staple of modern society. This was a turning point that contributed to the chocolate mania of the 19th century.

The Birth of Modern Chocolate

After the manufacturing process was well established, more companies started developing their own types of chocolate. Milton Hershey began producing his chocolate in 1900, while Arthur Ganong made the first nickel chocolate bar in 1910. The concept of a single-origin chocolate bar was introduced in 1986 by Valrhona, marking a new trend in the global chocolate market.

Today, modern chocolate comes in various forms, including white chocolate, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate, and can be found in premium chocolate bars, hot chocolate, and chocolate confections. With the ever-evolving chocolate industry, you can now easily buy your own Luxury Chocolate Hampers and enjoy them as a testament to the amazing chocolate history.

Modern-day classics include brands such as Cadbury, Galaxy, Lindt, and Tony’s Chocolonely, all of which offer hundreds of different chocolate bars and packets that have been popular for decades. Here at The Awesome Hamper Company, we’ve included as many of these beloved brands as possible in our range of Chocolate Hampers that make for amazing gifts for friends or family. Please go check them out!

Fun Chocolate Facts

Did you know that in 2008, so many new chocolate products were being launched that there was an average of one new item being brought to the market every hour of every day?
The worldwide production of cocoa is over 4.7 million tonnes each year!