Did You Know?
Explore some fascinating and lesser-known facts about cocoa and chocolate!
Cocoa Beans Were Once Used as Currency
In ancient Mesoamerica, the Aztecs used cocoa beans as a form of currency. Cocoa beans were so valuable that they were often traded for food and other essentials.
Cocoa is a Fruit Seed
Cocoa actually comes from the seed of the cacao fruit. The cacao pod is a large, colorful fruit, and each pod has around 30-50 cocoa beans.
Chocolate Milk Was Originally Used as Medicine
In the 1700s, chocolate milk was introduced to Europe as a medicinal drink. People believed that it had healing properties and would drink it to treat various ailments.
White Chocolate Isn’t Technically Chocolate
White chocolate is made from cocoa butter, sugar, and milk, but it doesn’t contain cocoa solids. Since it lacks cocoa solids, some argue that it’s not real chocolate!
Cocoa Helps the Environment
Cocoa trese thrive in rainforests, where it helps to prevent soil erosion. Additionally, many cocoa farms are now promoting sustainable practices to protect rainforests.
