The cocoa tree dates back in 1000 B.C. Its geographic origin is Central America and Mexico, where there are findings of its existence.
The Maya tribe was the first who developed and cultivated the cocoa crops, which they nominated symbolically as coin (transaction commodity in a barter economy). By doing so, cocoa crops were a great help to their commerce and people’s increasing wealth.
The cocoa in Europe
Between 1550 and 1600 is when the first cocoa cargo arrives in Europe, specifically in Spain, by the conqueror Hernan Cortés.