Did you know chocolate is Mexican?

Did you know chocolate is Mexican? 6 surprising facts about the world’s favorite treat

Published August 1, 2024

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of chocolate? If you ask non-Mexicans, they will probably imagine the staple milk bar we all know and love. But if you ask a Mexican like me, thoughts may turn to a comforting cup of hot chocolate or a traditional Mexican-style chocolate bar. But did you know that chocolate itself is Mexican?

Mexico has its own love story with chocolate — even the word itself comes from the Nahuatl “xocolatl” or “chicolatl.” The story dates back to before the arrival of the Spanish, when ancient cultures revered chocolate as a gift from the gods. With Spanish colonization and the blending of Old and New World traditions, the culture of chocolate expanded to transform into the sweet confection we know today.

But how did it all start? How did ancient cultures in Mexico use chocolate and how did it evolve to become the world’s most popular sweet treat? From a sacred beverage to an aphrodisiac to a worldwide empire, here are seven surprising facts about the history of chocolate that I’m sure you didn’t know.

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