Mexico (Mesoamerican chocolate history)

Mexico's Mesoamerican civilizations, such as the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec, were among the first to cultivate cacao beans around 1500 BCE. They valued cacao highly, using it in rituals, as currency, and making a bitter, frothy beverage called *xocolatl*, often flavored with spices. Cacao was considered sacred and symbolized wealth and power. When Europeans arrived, they introduced chocolate to the world, transforming it into the sweet, popular treat we enjoy today. This rich history highlights cacao's cultural significance and its enduring legacy in Mexico's heritage.