Chocolate has long been given as a gift, particularly as a gift of affection or passion. The forerunner to chocolate was the Aztec drink xocoatl, a mix of water, spices and ground cacao beans. Aztecs used the beans as a form of currency and for payment of tribute to their kings. An Indian Chief is said to have made a gift of a basket of cocoa beans to Christopher Columbus, although Columbus did not know what to do with the beans. Later, The Aztec King Montezuma presented Cortez and his conquistadors with gifts of cocoa beans. It is recorded that the Aztecs favored the beans above gold. In 1615 Spanish Princess Anna of Austria gave to her new husband, King Louis XIII, a gift of chocolate. The drink became fashionable within Louis’ court and it quickly spread to Italy and later to Austria. Casanova believed in the aphrodisial qualities of chocolate and often plied his romantic interests with gifts of chocolate. Cadbury introduced the first chocolate box in 1765 when cocoa beans were brought to Dorchester, Massachusetts from the West Indies. Boxed chocolates have been given as gifts ever since. In 1835 the master pastry chef to Emperor Franz Joseph make a gift of the first Imperial Torte, a five-layered chocolate cake with five layers of almond paste, to the Empress. Queen Victoria made a New Years gift of specially molded chocolates to the British troops fighting the Boer War in South Africa in 1900. During World War II American soldiers became well known to European children as gift bearers of 4-ounce chocolate bars. Modern chocolatiers produce the finest gourmet and hand-made chocolates in history, many elegantly boxed for gift giving. Want to learn more about the fascinating history of chocolate? Visit us at:
http://www.chocolate-gourmet-gifts.com George Murray is the President of Centric Promotions, Inc. Learn more about the fascinating history of chocolate and view an assortment of luxury chocolates presented in beautiful gift boxes by visiting us at: http://www.chocolate-gourmet-gifts.com
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