Chocolates civilization

Chocolate has become one of the most important popular food types and flavor in the world. Gifts of chocolate molded into different shapes have become traditional on certain events. Around three quarters of the world's cacao bean production takes place in West Africa.
The word chocolate entered the English language from Spanish. There are three multiple competing explanations. The most cited explanation is that "chocolate" comes from Nahuatl, the language of Aztecs, from the word "chocolate", which many source derived from the Nahuatl word "xococ" meaning bitter, and "atl" meaning water or drink. Many other words like "chokol", chicoli", which mean "hot water" and beaten drink" are assumed as the true meaning of word chocolate.
Cocoa mass was used originally in Mesoamerica both as a beverage and as an ingredient in foods. Chocolate has been used as a drink for nearly all of its history. Archaeologists find evidence of the oldest known cultivation and use of cacao at a site in Puerto Escondido ,Honduras ,dating from about 1100 to 1400 BC. The Maya civilization grew cacao trees in their backyard, and used it as a bitter drink. Chocolate was also an important luxury good throughout pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, and cacao beans were often used as currency.
South America and European cultures have used cocoa to treat diarrhea for hundreds of years.

For hundreds of years there was no change in chocolate making process. Many changes occurred after the industrial revolution. A Dutch family named "Van Houten", inventions made mass production of shiny, tasty chocolate bars and relates products. In 18th century, mechanical mills were used to squeeze out cocoa butter. After that chocolate became popular world wide.
There are several types of chocolates. Pure, unsweetened, solid and butter in variety proportion of cocoa. Much of the chocolate consumed today is sweet chocolate and milk chocolate. White chocolate" contain cocoa butter, sugar, and milk but no cocoa solids. Because of this many countries do not consider white chocolate as chocolate at all. It was first introduced by Hebert Candies, Mars Incoporated was the first to produce white chocolate with in united states.
Cocao trees need rich, well-drained soils. They are small in size and cannot tolerate a temperature lower than 15 degrees Celsius. The three main varieties of cacao beans used in chocolate are criollo, forastero and trinitario. The most commonly grown bean is forastero. The African crop is entirely of the Forastero variety.
Chocolate has both positive and negative health effects. Cocoa or dark chocolate benefits the circulatory system. Other beneficial effects suggested include anticancer, brain stimulator, cough preventer and anti-diarrhoeal effects. On the other hand, it increases the risk of obesity. Manufacturers may add other fats, sugar, and milk as well, all these things increase the calories. Despite all these facts chocolate is most popular food in the world.