World Chocolate Day 2022

On September 13, International Chocolate Day is celebrated, a true delicacy of nature, which comes from the seed of the cocoa tree, abundant in countries such as Mexico, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Colombia and Venezuela. Its history dates back to pre-Columbian times, where it was cultivated and used by the Incas, Mayans and Aztecs as an energy drink, to combat diseases and as a religious offering. Cocoa was a symbol of luxury and power and its seed was even considered currency, so hunters, farmers and artisans sold their products in exchange for it.

The word cocoa comes from the Nahuatl “Cacahoatl” which means bitter juice. The Aztecs learned from the Mayans and were the first to create a drink with Xocolatl based on water and spices such as cinnamon and chili. The way of consuming cocoa was very similar to the preparation of coffee, grinding the dry seed and mixing it with water, until the idea of ​​mixing this powder with milk arose and from there the chocolate drink that we know today.

Legend says that Quetzalcoatl, the Toltec God of Life, stole the cocoa tree from the Gods and gave them to mortals so that they would always stay well fed and have no other concern than using their skills in sciences and arts.

When the Spanish settlers arrived in America, they were amazed at its flavor and versatility. They brought this novel crop back to Europe, where it became the drink of choice for the nobility. In the 19th century it was industrialized and chocolate became a consumer food within the reach of the entire population. Its scientific name Theobroma cacao, in Greek means food of the gods 

The World Chocolate Day festivity was born in 1995 in France, in homage to the British writer Roald Dahl, author of the work “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, but also and coincidentally, on this same date Milton S. Hershey, founder of the company of the famous Hershey chocolates, was born, for which this date is doubly sweet and fun to celebrate.

Chocolate is a delicacy that should be included in our daily diet, since some studies indicate that it is a food that, in the long term, provides health to our cardiovascular system, as long as it is dark chocolate, since it contains more cocoa and less sugar.

In Ecuador, cocoa cultivation is concentrated in the provinces of Los Ríos, Guayas, Manabí and Sucumbíos and two types of cocoa are grown: CCN 51 and Cacao Nacional. Ecuadorian cocoa is a Fine Aroma Cocoa known as ‘Arriba’, since colonial times. According to its statistics, 60% of national production goes to the markets of the United States, Mexico and Europe. In 2011, Ecuador received the award for “best cocoa for its oral quality” and “best cocoa bean for geographical region” at the Salon du Chocolat in Paris, France.

Aren’t you tempted to come try Ecuadorian chocolate? Visit Ecuador and you will live a unique experience that will captivate your senses, thanks to the incomparable diversity and beauty of its places and the warmth of its people. We are waiting for you!