Eden Project

A potted history of chocolate

Flick through the pictures to find out about some of the most crucial events in the story of chocolate: from the importance of cocoa to Central American civilisations to the modern Fairtrade movement.

Highly valued by Mayans and Aztecs

The cocoa beans were so precious they were used as money!

Spanish conquistadors arrive in Mexico, 1519

The Aztecs and their king, Montezuma, thought Hernan Cortez and his men were gods, and offered them cocoa.

Cocoa arrives in Spain, and chocolate becomes fashionable

The Spanish added sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, cloves, allspice and cinnamon.

The taste for chocolate spreads across Europe in the 18th century

It was reputed to be an aphrodisiac.

Disease hits Central and South American cocoa crops

Slaves who were stolen from Africa to work on the American plantations were shipped back to grow cocoa in their homeland.

Cocoa production is boosted in the 19th century

As demand for chocolate increased in the West, chemicals were used to boost production.

Ghanaian cocoa growers protest in the 1920s and 30s

African growers took a stand against unfair profit-making by big businesses in the West.

Fairtrade arrangements set up for cocoa growers

Consumers can now choose to buy Fairtrade chocolate to ensure growers get more money.

The pictures above are by Paul Spooner as part of his Mayeaux Tapestry artwork. You can see the full Mayeaux Tapestry in the Cocoa exhibit in Eden's Rainforest Biome.

Find out more about cocoa and chocolate at Eden's Chocolate Jungle event during February half-term (Saturday 11 - Sunday 19 February 2012).

 
Cocoa trees in Eden's rainforest, and frieze of pictures showing story of chocolate