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Cocoa Beans Discovered |
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Chocolate is made from the fruit of the cacao tree
(Theobroma cacao). The cacao tree is indigenous to Central and South
America as well as being grown in equatorial countries around the world.
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus is believed to be the first to bring cocoa
beans to Europe. On his fourth visit to the 'New World' between 1502 and 1504 he discovered
cocoa beans. However, he also brought back many other treasures on board his galleons and they
were considered far more exciting than the humble cocoa bean which was neglected.
Christopher Columbus 'discovered' cocoa beans on August 15, 1502, when he robbed the cargo of a
native Mayan trader near modern Honduras. Columbus assumed that the beans were a kind of almond,
and all he really knew about them was that someone else thought they were valuable; so, for
the glory of Church, State, and Christopher Columbus, he took them:
"They seemed to hold these almonds at a great price; for when they were brought on
board ship together with their goods, I observed that when any of these almonds fell, they
all stooped to pick it up, as if an eye had fallen"
However, Columbus was still searching for the route to India, so he failed to realise
the potential cocoa market that had fallen into his lap.
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Cocoa beans |
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