The History of British Chocolate

History of British chocolate

Chocolate as a drink has been used since early centuries. The first use of chocolate can be traced to the Maya and Aztec civilizations of Central America when roasted cocoa beans were used to make a spicy drink. When the Spanish people attacked the Aztec civilization during 16th century, they carried with themselves gallons of cocoa beans and soon chocolate became a favorite drink in Spain. Christopher Columbus is also believed to have carried cocoa beans from the "New World" to Europe at the beginning of the 16th century. English sailors did not seem to realize the importance of the cocoa beans when they found the stock in huge quantity on the Spanish treasure ships captured by them around that time.

Britain witnessed the first chocolate house in 1657 in England that was similar to a coffee house but with the only difference that they served hot chocolate. During that time, the British chocolate drink was considered as a beverage for the affluent class because of its high rates. In the early part of the nineteenth century, John Cadbury opened a shop in the heart of the city, trading as a coffee and tea dealer. Soon he started selling cocoa and drinking chocolate in his shop, which he made using pestle and mortar. The tradition of drinking chocolate continued across all European countries including Britain till as late as the later part of 19th century

It was only in the Victorian era that the technology to make the solid chocolate for eating was developed in Europe. The history of British chocolate in solid sweet can be traced back to 1847 when an English company J. S. Fry and Sons of Bristol which later merg