Only about 150 years ago, chocolate became a modern look. Prior to that 3000 years it existed only in the form of a drink. Everyone knows that the pioneers of chocolate were Indian tribes of the Maya and Aztec. Priests in churches prayed and sacrificed to his powerful patron - god of cocoa. In the language of the Aztec drink, which is prepared from cocoa beans, called "cacahuatle", and the Maya called him "xocolatl", which translated means "foamy water".
The recipe was simple: cocoa beans, grind into powder and mixed with cold water. Cocoa beans themselves are very bitter, so you might guess, representing the taste"drink of the gods". However, for the nobility beverage prepared by the more complicated recipes, including spices - vanilla, cinnamon and even chili peppers. And absolutely exclusive method of cooking there for the Aztec ruler Montezuma - roasted cocoa beans were ground together with grains of corn milk, add honey and boiled sweet juice of the agave to reduce bitterness. Then all this flavored vanilla. Apparently, at that time were already known to the exciting properties of cocoa, as Montezuma drank a cup of medicinal drink, before entering into his extensive harem.
In 1517 in America, arrived Spaniard Cortes. Bitter taste of strange dark fluid caused delight conquistadors, but nevertheless, they paid tribute to its specific aroma and appreciate the tonic effect. Without thinking twice, they named a drink "Theobroma cacao", which means "food of the gods" and taken to Europe their discovery. In the chocolate began to add cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar, and drink now serve hot. These changes were for the benefit of chocolate, and he soon became a fashionable drink of the Spanish aristocracy. The Spaniard kept strictly recipe of chocolate a secret, but it did not last long - in the 17 th century Chocolate is famous all over Europe.
Higher clergy will not remain indifferent to the exotic drink. Most of the Catholic Church were concerned, can I eat chocolate during Lent. The bishops came to the conclusion that the deal with this in a state of only the Pope himself. Having tasted this strange, dark, bitter drink, Pope Pius V expressed as follows: "Chocolate does not violate the post. It can not bring this crap to someone fun!". Because cocoa was officially allowed to use.
Strong and bitter chocolate has long been considered an exclusively male drink. Then, to cocoa were added various spices - vanilla, nutmeg, cloves, anise, almonds, and even rosewater. At first the milk came up with the British to prepare a drink, and added to a glass of Madeira and raw eggs. In England, the famous chocolate houses became so popular that even eclipsed tea and coffee shops.
Amazing ability to hot chocolate to improve mood and increase vitality has long been seen by people. And when it drew the attention of scientists, discovered that biologically active substances in cocoa, make the human brain to produce a cascade of hormones that bring pleasure and reduce any pain.
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