The Olmecs are credited with inventing chocolate over 3,000 years ago in Mesoamerica.
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Food
The Olmec civilization, located in what is now Southern Mexico, were among the first to cultivate cacao plants around 1500 BCE. They fermented, roasted, and ground the cacao beans, creating a bitter drink that is considered the earliest use of chocolate. It was later adopted by the Maya and Aztec civilizations, who prized it as both a luxury and a sacred beverage. The Spanish brought chocolate to Europe in the 16th century, leading to its global popularity.
