The Journey of the Bean: From Cacao to Chocolate

The cacao bean's journey is one full of incidence and romance, and one which epitomizes the Colombian exchange. Mistaken for almonds at one point by Columbus, the cacao bean's value was soon realized even though European traders were often fooled into buying cargoes of avocado stones. Nevertheless, it became a valuable commodity, earning status through the role of the chocolate house in 19th Century European politics. This is a social and economic history of chocolate, looking at the cultur...