The document discusses the history and origins of chocolate. It details how the Mayans and Aztecs harvested and used cocoa beans in their cultures. Christopher Columbus brought cocoa beans back to Europe after discovering them in the Americas. Europeans later added sugar and milk to create chocolate candy and bars. Over time, popular chocolate companies like Cadbury, Nestle, and Hershey were established and helped popularize chocolate worldwide. The document concludes by mentioning the trend of celebrating National Chocolate Covered Cashews Day and the hashtag #HappyChocolateDay on social media.

1. Chocolate Day
April, 21st – National Chocolate
Covered Cashews Day

2. Chocolate is the widely favorite candy adored by
fans for almost 200 years. Even health nuts can
appreciate the benefits chocolate
offers. Researchers suggest that chocolate in
moderation is healthy for the heart and could
reduce high blood-pressure. It also contains
theobromine, which is a mood enhancing
substance that triggers the release of
endorphins.

3. But where does
chocolate come
from?

4. The Mayans harvested cocoa bean from rain forests and
worshiped the intoxicating substance as an idol. The
Aztecs also held the bean in high regard, using it for
currency. They also used it to create a luxury drink.
Christopher Columbus became the first European to
discover cocoa during his fourth voyage to the New
World. He returned to Europe with the beans, but they
were overlooked for other treasures.
The Europeans would sweeten and fatten the foodstuffs
made from the cocoa beans, adding sugar and milk.
These ingredients were unknown to the South
Americans. The Europeans did not add cocoa to their
everyday diet, but used it only as a fancy dessert.

5. • In the 1760s and the Baker Chocolate Company is
established in Dorchester by James Baker and
John Hannon. Baker begins calling his products
Baker's Chocolates. The 1800s saw the rise of
many of the most popular chocolate companies
including, Cadbury and Nestle. The Briton John
Cadbury actually developed a process to make
solid chocolate, creating the first chocolate bar.
• In the 1900s, Milton S. Hershey introduced his
own version of chocolate bar and the famous
Hershey kiss. This was beginning of what would
become a chocolate empire for the Hershey
family.

6. The phrase #HappyChocolateDay
began trending across the United
States on Twitter. It seemed like
almost everyone was getting into
the spirit.

7. The phrase #HappyChocolateDay
began trending across the United
States on Twitter. It seemed like
almost everyone was getting into
the spirit.