The U.S. produces more chocolate than any other country, with Americans consuming 2.8 billion pounds annually. That’s over 11 pounds per person! So where did this chocolate originate, and how did it gain popularity? The history of chocolate dates back further than you may believe—as people roaming around the ancient Maya may have been experimenting with some chocolaty goodness. However, it could be traced back further, as evidence of cocoa beans has been found in ancient Southern Mexico. Thus, it is feasible that the Olmecs could be the founders of Valentine's Day’s beloved treat. That still leaves the question, how did it evolve from growing in ancient times to the familiar heart-shaped box? 

While the exact origins of cocoa beans remain unclear, the individual who significantly impacted its sweet history is also uncertain. According to Hayes Lavis, the cultural arts curator at the "Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian", pots discovered from the Olmec civilization contain traces of theobromine. It's a stimulant found in products like chocolate and tea. These artifacts date back to approximately 1500 B.C. What the Olmecs did with cacao is still unknown considering there are no written records from that time. Opinions vary widely, with some believing they used the whole cacao bean to make a ceremonial drink, or only used the pulp of the cacao bean pod. 

The uncertainty of what the Olmecs did with cacao wasn’t transferred to the Maya, but the knowledge of the bean’s existence certainly was. The ancient civilization worshipped the treat, with chocolate drinks used in everything from celebrations to finalizing important documents, to important religious ceremonies. Although, despite its high veneration to the Mayan people, it wasn’t exclusive to those who could purchase it. Many Mayan families, poor and rich, had chocolate readily available to them for almost every meal, frothy and mixed with honey, water or even chill peppers for a kick of spice. But if you think that the Mayans loved chocolate, the Aztecs blew it right out of the water, believing that cacao was gifted to them by the gods. 

Similar to the Mayans, the Aztecs enjoyed chocolate spiced, served hot, or cold. Additionally, they utilized cacao beans as a form of currency to purchase food and other goods, with cacao beans being even more valuable than gold. Aztec chocolate, known as “xocolatl”, was primarily a delicacy for the upper class. However, during ceremonial occasions, such as weddings, the lower class could also partake in this sweet treat.

Yet another tale tells of friars, deeply religious people who have taken a vow of poverty, when presenting Guatemalan Mayans to Philip II of Spain in 1544 also brought along cacao beans as a gift. While the details of its arrival are fuzzy, by the late 1500s, Spain had fallen head over heels for the sweet treat, flavouring it with cane sugar, cinnamon and other common spices and flavourings closer to the familiar finishes we see today. By 1585, Spain imported its beloved sweets to countries such as Italy and France. In this way, the wave of chocolate obsession spread across Europe, creating the need for chocolate plantations which were tended to by thousands of enslaved people. Finally, on board a Spanish ship in 1641, chocolate arrived in Florida, and the first chocolate shop opened in Boston in 1682. Cacao beans, becoming a regular in colony import by 1773, have been enjoyed by people of all classes since their arrival.

So, why does chocolate correlate with Valentine's Day? Cupids, angels, and roses became part of the romantic lexicon by the 1800s, but it was one individual who combined chocolate with Valentine’s Day. British chocolatier  Richard Cadbury had a moment of realization in 1861 when he began selling his chocolates in heart-shaped boxes. 

He had recently improved his chocolate-making technique to extract pure cocoa butter from whole beans, producing a drinking chocolate that was more enjoyable than most Britons had ever experienced. This improvement led to a surplus of cocoa butter, which he used to craft a wider range of what was then called “eating chocolate”. Recognizing a significant marketing opportunity, Richard began packaging the new treats in beautifully designed boxes he created himself. He dubbed the packaging the “fancy box”, which could also be used to store keepsakes like love notes, adding value beyond its primary purpose.

The heart-shaped box quickly gained popularity, and chocolate companies began to produce boxes in an ever-increasing variety of styles to attract customers. This gave men the opportunity to showcase their taste by selecting the right box for the specific woman they wished to impress. 

Now a lot of contemporary chocolate is produced on a large scale and undergoes extensive refining. However, there are still some chocolatiers who craft their chocolates by hand, using the most natural ingredients available. Perhaps thank the Olmecs for their impactful discovery on our world, maybe even with a Valentine's Day chocolate heart! Their innovations in agriculture, art, and early writing have laid the groundwork for many aspects of modern civilization as we celebrate love and connection on Valentine's Day.

Sources:

https://www.history.com/news/valentines-day-chocolate-box-history-cadbury 

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/12/health/history-of-chocolate-valentines-day-wellness/index.html 

https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-americas/history-of-chocolate