Chocolate was introduced to Europe by Columbus’s journeys of discovery to America and in the days of conquest of Mexico by Spaniard Cortez. It was described how the Aztecs served their ruler Montezuma a drink made of roasted, grinded and whipped cocoa mass, to which had been added several spices. Montezuma drank 50 golden cupfuls of this “nectar� a day.
The Spanish king liked this drink, but it was too bitter for him. Therefore, the Spanish sweet tooth put some sugar in it. They managed to keep the recipe of this drink secret almost 100 years, only then it leaked to France where the “Sun King� Louis XIV served it with pride in his Courts.
In the beginning of the 17th century, the tradition of making and drinking chocolate spread to England, where characteristically of Englishmen milk was added to it. From that time, we have known milk chocolate.
Production of solid chocolate in bars began in about 1810 in France and 10 years later in England.
One of the first most well-known chocolate producers in Estonia was George Stude’s company in the second half of the 19th century.
