The History of Chocolate Explained

‘For if a person fatigued with long and hard labour, or with a violent agitation of the mind, takes a good dish of chocolate, he shall perceive almost instantly that his faintness shall cease, and his strength shall be recovered’
The Cacao tree was first domesticated by the Olmecs in Mesoamerica, possibly as early as 1500 BC, and was then first encountered by Europeans in the 16th century, when it is said that the Aztec Emperor Montezuma welcomed Hernan Cortes into his dominion with a mysterious dark drink. Indeed, Chocolate was originally consumed as a drink, and was a cornerstone of Aztec life, whether used as currency or as part of religious rituals. Brought back by the conquistadors to Europe, Chocolate slowly spread through the continent, particularly among the ruling classes, up until the industrial revolution of the 19th century, when technical advancements allowed for chocolate to be made into a food, at a far lower cost. This paved the way for Quaker families, such as the Cadburys or the Frys, keen to find an alternative to alcohol, to make the snack available to the masses…
Tom and Dominic have partnered with ‪@cadbury‬ in celebration of their 200th year anniversary, to explore the story of how chocolate, from its Mesoamerican origins, became a British favourite.
Over the coming months, Cadbury will be announcing more plans for its 200th anniversary year, including ways that fans nationwide can get involved in the celebrations. For more information, visit: www.cadbury.co...

[@danielcliment8251]

I cannot thank enough to the gods of podcast for these two. Is such a luxury to listen to smart people talking these days...

[@jamie_ar]

Tom's intro accent reminded me of the exchange between King Arthur and the French soldiers in Monty Python and The Holy Grail 😆

[@goyonman9655]

Probably grew up on it

[@Mute_Nostril_Agony]

He's channelling countless British actors doing Hercule Poirot

[@debbiecarter6430]

😂

[@Elitist20]

Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelled of elderberries!

[@Psmith-ek5hq]

@@Elitist20 I fart in your general direction.

[@jmcdowall]

10:25 I won't do it in an Italian accent - He said [breath] [Italian Accent] "eet seemeda mora" - I will. 😂

[@DarkForcesStudio]

A 53min chocolate ad. And loved it. Next. Pot Noodle. 👍

[@dabtican4953]

Lucky to get sponsored by Cadbury, good episode too as usual.

[@cadbury]

Thanks Dabtican! We loved working with them on this 💜

[@TheAnadromist]

As they used to say in the late 90s... Sweet!

[@joannemoore3976]

People don't regard tea as erotic 🤣🤣 I bloody love this podcast

[@samuelyeates2326]

Chocolate: Start your day off with a bang!

[@thanksfernuthin]

If you ever get a chance to watch someone make their own chocolate from the harvested plant onwards, do it. It's absolutely nightmarish. A huge amount of work and time and a hundred ways to screw it up. Chocolate would still be for only the very rich today without the industrialization of it's manufacture.

[@sawahtb]

I've been to the Ghirardelli factory and it's really a process that needs machines, it's too intense.

[@unbabunga229]

You can’t leave us on a cliff hanger for the Second Punic War, that’s barbarism

[@mynameisweevil]

It's outragious behaviour.

[@christinehaylock8428]

Very poor behaviour indeed.

[@woronzof3909]

I do love your episodes, all of them. Educational and very entertaining!! I mostly catch them via podcasts, but I’m here to tweak your comments on Quakers. We are all considered clergy, actually-no laity! The idea is that we all have some sort of ministry to contribute, sometimes officially “minuted” to do so, but always under girding our daily lives and actions.

[@fuferito]

The _Whizzo Chocolate Company_ would definitely love to add powdered millipedes and the galls or livers of eels to complement their "Crunchy Frog" chocolate.

[@jimb9063]

I think that idea has got legs.

[@forthrightgambitia1032]

I remember seeing adverts for Iceland Moss cocoa in original versions of the magazines in which Dickens's Our Mutual Friend was serialised.

[@JoshAkers-cd1zj]

Loved this episode ❤‍🔥

[@raoulduke8003]

Glad to find you again on KZbin! Question: do you have a St. Patrick's Day episode?

[@rubin_brenner]

They do, its from March 2022 on Apple podcasts

[@ted356]

Very entertaining. FYI Cadbury chocolate Easter eggs are still very popular in the US.

[@noodleperson17]

A comment about the tedious, ubiquitous and misogynistic ‘woman having orgasmic response to eating chocolate made by a man’ in adverts (Flake, Lindt and others) would have been interesting. But I suppose Cadbury would object to that discussion.

[@tractorhead971]

I recommend the song ‘Chocolate Wings’ by Bent.

[@JoMad53]

‘Allo ‘Allo vibes at the start!

[@sunsunsunh]

Wow, what a studio you got there

[@channel9r]

Brilliant! I'm off to the shops to stock up on Dairy Milk ...

[@cadbury]

We love this 😍💜

[@Ivannah75]

Love you both.

[@Clarkeianto]

I wont do it in an Italian accent.......proceeds to do an Italian accent 😂😂😂❤

[@geoffreylowery9730]

Say what you like but Hershey's can be had with fruit, nuts, and many other delicious ingredients... but not Lichen. Love the show guys. Hanging on every episode from the tax dodging U.S.

[@hahahahahha8458]

You guys only did ONE episode on the first world war, will there be more?

[@malicant123]

Can't we just be happy that it did arrive? 😂

[@bkohatl]

I love fake accents in a foreign language to mimic the original language, perfect comic relief.

[@_eddiecole]

Meanwhile Nutella is taking puerto rico by storm

[@jacquipettitt3389]

Loved this episode people.

[@elleneylers987]

Loved this, love chocolate...

[@gosiachaaban2484]

Super interesting stuff, especially Bourneville part for me. Cadbury is not my favourite, far too sweet. Chocolate with alcohol in it is a nice combination and dark chocolate with chilli 🌶

[@Johnconno]

My God, it's Max Von Sydow!⚰️

[@MsGardener77]

Tcho is a company in California and makes amazing chocolate.

[@jimb9063]

Good stuff gents. I'd love to try the original drink as I only drink coffee black, espresso if I can get it, so can do without sugar and milk. Would be a good comparison, may the best bean win. Couple of things I've heard but not sure how true. The success of Quaker origin 'refreshment' companies in the UK was largely because in the days before food legislation, Quakers were one of the few groups of people who were trusted not to cut corners for profit. The slight vomit flavo(u)r of US chocolate comes from a method of production used during WW2. People got used to it so it stayed the same.

[@dogeared100]

Vomit flavor? Not Hersheys.

[@jimb9063]

@@dogeared100 Slight. It's the butyric acid in it apparently, which actually is present in vomit. Love the concepts they come up with though. We need more peanut butter and chocolate products in the UK IMO it works well.

[@HectorLopez-km7vh]

EXCELLENT!!

[@victoriamacgregor9280]

I love cadburys chocolate

[@gregcollins7602]

First we will talk about the history of chocolate in Meso America starting with the Olmecs. I saw a head in the British museum. On to the Spanish and what they wrote. WTH.

[@yj9032]

Why is this removed from Google podcasts?

[@SamandSteve]

Because google podcasts is being wound up, in favour of KZbin

[@ropeburnsrussell]

I'm offended by your libelous comments on cheese in the United States. Vermont and New York both produce excellent sharp cheeses. Otherwise I enjoy hearing you discuss Britains decline, I enjoy it a great deal.

[@dogeared100]

Here here.

[@noodleperson17]

You said that Quakers shared an entrepreneurial spirit (borne from necessity) along with Jews and… Armenians???? I didn’t know the latter were around in Victorian Britain?

[@shelleyscloud3651]

Noooooo! They’ll try to cancel chocolate now!!!

[@michaellear6904]

Yeah, some folks lie awake at night mortified by the idea that somewhere someone might be enjoying themselves.

[@nickunderwood4116]

Hang on... Jefferson was Cornish?

[@Iosephus_Michaelis]

Listen to the episodes on the American War of Independence

[@nickunderwood4116]

Will do! This needs an explanation.

[@1964cohibas]

The policeman out of ello ello

[@buy.to.let.britain]

the cadbury flake was inspired by my work ethic.

[@tpm1999]

American Chocolate is an acquired taste .... just like Haggis.

[@youngsyr]

To Europeans it smells of vomit!

[@michaellear6904]

Harsh

[@dogeared100]

As an American I just can't tell the difference.

[@darraghnevin6589]

23:57