All about cacao
The history of cacao
Cacao's birthplace is in Central and South America, where she's been used both in a sacred and everyday way.
Where did the story begin?
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The oldest evidence so far of the use of cacao have been found in today's Ecuador, with the Mayo-Chinchipe people (-5500 to -1700 BC).
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Traces of theobromine (one of the main components of cacao) were found at both sacred sites and on everyday ceramics.
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Evidences were found through the ages and civilisations, with the Mokaya (Mesoamerica), the Olmecs (Pacific coast of Guatemala & Mexico), the Mayans (Central America), the Toltecs (Mesoamerica), and the Aztecs (Mexico), who introduced cacao to the conquistadors in the 16th century.
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The dual aspect
One of the most fascinating aspects in the origins of cacao is that we're always seeing this dual aspect:
Cacao was used to communicate with the gods, as an offering, but also in everyday life, as a currency or a beverage.
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In the Mayan culture, gods were also depicted exchanging cacao, which gave its genus name to the plant:
"Theobroma" means "Food of the Gods" in Greek.
The cacao tree is also depicted as a "Tree of life", serving as a portal between the underworld and the human world and a symbol of rebirth.
