1500 BC-400 BC – The Olmec Indians were believed to be the first to grow Cacao Trees

250-900 AD – Cocoa beans could only be consumed my Mayan societies elite. They used it in a form of cocoa drink

600 AD – Mayans establish Cacao Tree plantations in South America

13th century – The Aztecs attribute the creation of chocolate to their god Quetzalcoatl

14th century – The chocolate drink becomes popular with the Aztecs

1492 – Columbus first ran into the mysterious cacao bean

1519 – Cortes documented the consumption of the cocoa drink by Emperor Montezuma

1528 – Cortes presents the Spanish King, Charles V with cacao beans

16th century – Spanish begin adding sugar and flavorings to their chocolate beverages

1609 – The first book devoted to chocolate was written

1657 – The first chocolate house opened in London

1674 – People first began eating solid chocolate

1677 – Brazil establishes its first Cacao plantations

1732 – French inventor Monsieur Dubuisson invented a table mill for grinding chocolate

1753 – Carolus Linnaeus renamed cocoa to Theobroma, which means food of the gods in Greek

1765 – Chocolate is first introduced to the United States

1795 – Dr. Joseph Fry used a steam engine for grinding his cocoa beans. This paved way for the first large factory production.

1828 – Conrad Van Houten invented the cocoa press. This helped lower the price of chocolate

1847 – Joseph Fry and Son created the first modern chocolate bar

1876 – Daniel Peter invented the first milk chocolate bar

1900’s – The Ivory Coast start their first cacao plantations

Back to Chocolate Festival 2007