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Spanish chocolate
The Spanish brought chocolate to Europe when they conquered
South America in the 16th century. The Aztecs had grown
cocao beans, and used them as a stimulating
drink.
New crops
In the same period, the Spanish also brought other new
foodstuffs: tomatoes, potatoes, tobacco, and
turkeys....
Many of these could be grown in the
cooler climate of Europe, but not cocoa. This had to be
brought by ship across the Atlantic, so remained an
expensive luxury.
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A bitter drink
Drinking quite bitter cups of chocolate bacame fashionable
in the Spanish court - and amongst wealthy people across the
Spanish empire, which included Belgium and most of what is
now northern France.
British chocolate
When the taste for chocolate came to Britain, chocolate
bars and sweets were made in factories with much more milk
and fats added to the cocoa. In north France, Belgium and
most of Europe, chocolate sweets continued to be made with a
very high cocoa content - so taste bitter compared with the
British variety....
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