1519. Cacao goes to Europe and Beyond
Spanish explorer Hernandes Cortez planted a cacao plantation in 1519 in Central America because he wanted to "grow money." Who wouldn't?!
He and his Spanish fleet nicknamed cacao beans "black gold." When he returned to Spain in 1528 he presented the beans to King Charles and they began mixing cacao with other spices, making a "bitter drink." The "black gold" was reserved for royalty and nobles, and Spain actually kept cacao secret for 100 years.
1585. Cacao began getting imported to Spain
...from Mexico in 1585. Word eventually got out and London opened the first "chocolate house" in 1657. It was a meeting place for the elite. The first solid chocolate was introduced in 1674. Chocolate was introduced to America in 1765 thanks to an Irish chocolatier. To help meet the demand the "food of the Gods" had created, the first industrial size chocolate factory was built in 1800.
1971. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
1991. Green & Black's
The first organic chocolate bar was produced in 1991 in London, England by Green & Black's.
2000. Raw Chocolate
Raw chocolate has become wildly popular in the last few years. I am honestly not sure who made the first raw chocolate bar but David Wolfe certainly put it on the map. We love the book he co-wrote with Shazzie Naked Chocolate.