When money grew on trees: Cocoa and Royalty

When money grew on trees: Cocoa and Royalty

Hello...

Today I want to share with you a fascinating story about cacao and how this fruit has been deeply intertwined with history and royalty since pre-Hispanic times.

"And then the gods created four trees in the four directions of the world: the cacao tree, the corn tree, the cotton tree, and the ceiba tree. These trees were sacred and provided food and sustenance for men." Popol Vuh.

In ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, cacao was not just a food; it was a divine gift. According to legend, the god Quetzalcoatl, known as the god of wisdom and life, decided to share a precious gift with humans: the cacao tree.

Quetzalcoatl stole the sacred tree from the paradise of the gods and planted it on earth, teaching men to harvest it and prepare a sacred drink that strengthened body and spirit.

Cacao wasn't just a food; it represented fertility, abundance, and wisdom. In this sense, cacao became a symbol of nobility and privilege, reserved for the upper classes and religious ceremonies. In the courts of the ancient Mayan and Aztec civilizations, cacao was used as currency. Money literally grew on trees! These cacao beans were so valuable that they were exchanged for goods and services and were even used to pay taxes.

With the arrival of the Spanish, cacao traveled to Europe, where it was transformed into what we know today as chocolate. The conquistadors were fascinated by the bitter drink consumed by the Aztec nobles, and upon their return to Europe, they began sweetening it, creating a new industry that would conquer European palaces.

The legacy of cacao lives on today, and at María Cacao, we love to celebrate its historical and spiritual roots. Every time you enjoy one of our cacao pods or Celestial Grade Cacao, you're connecting with an ancient history of nobility, power, and wisdom.

With Love and Cocoa

Maria Cacao.