Chocolate Was Once Used As Currency; Here’s The Fascinating History Behind It

Chocolate Was Currency:  Chocolate in its earliest known form was much more than a dessert; it was even considered valuable enough to be used as an important asset for barter or trade systems. Well before it was the creamy dessert we all love today, cacao was a staple at the centre of ancient civilisations, especially for people of Maya and Aztecs in Mesoamerica. The cacao tree grew naturally in tropical climates, and its beans were bitter but valued. The Maya grew cacao as early as 250 CE, and they used it to make a frothy, spiced beverage known as ‘Xocolatl.’ By the time the Aztecs came to power, cacao was more than just a tasty beverage. It was a valuable commodity needed for trade and as tribute.

In the Aztec Empire, cacao beans were so valuable that they were taxed, paid as wages, and used to buy things. Historical accounts indicate that a single turkey might be worth several hundred cacao beans, whereas smaller goods were worth only a handful. Cacao was valuable because it was rare and demanded work to make it. The Aztecs were unable to cultivate cacao in their central highlands. This meant that it had to be brought in from more tropical areas, so it became a commodity to be admired and traded, according to Science.org.

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