The History of the Cocoa Plant

4000 years ago in modern-day Mexico cocoa was discovered and domesticated. Cocoa is native to South America and in the Yucatán area. Cocoa was consumed as an alcoholic beverage by people of high status. The cocoa bean was treated as a currency in these early civilizations. Cocoa drinks were altered with sugar and spices and spread around the world when the Spanish conquered the Mesoamerican area. It's early form in Western Europe was still a liquid, and was available to royalty and other social elites. It wasn't until the Industrial Revolution that the cocoa bean could be processed for the commoner to consume. Chocolate in it's solid form was created around 1850, by combining cocoa butter and cocoa powder. The 20th century saw the growing popularity of chocolate covered confections. Cocoa production has grown to about 4.5 million tons per year with most of this crop being grown in West Africa today.

Learn more about the cocoa plant in our Facts page.