Most people know that chocolate is made from cocoa and that the origins of chocolate can be traced back to Central and South America. For centuries, the natives there regarded cocoa as a gift from the gods. But how did chocolate go from being the food of the gods to being the food of love?

    Around A.D. 600, the Mayas were the main aboriginal group in Central America. They established the first cocoa plantations and used the cocoa bean as the main ingredient in a dark, bitter drink that we would call “chocolate.” The Mayas believed that chocolate had mystical properties---but cocoa also had commercial value. In fact, cocoa beans were used as a form of currency that was worth its weight in gold!

    Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortez was the first European explorer to realize cocoa's commercial possibilities. When he arrived in the New World in 1519, he soon established his own cocoa plantation. In 1529, Cortez returned to Spain and introduced chocolate---as a drink mixed with sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon---to European society. 

    It caught on---especially with the nobility, who fancied hot chocolate as an aphrodisiac. As its popularity spread, people found new ways to make and use chocolate. These days, chocolate is enjoyed as both a tasty treat and a romantic indulgence. Whether it is in delectable desserts or crunchy candy, people the world over are still in love with chocolate.

    1. plantation n. 種植地，農園

    2. cinnamon n. 肉桂

    3. indulgence n. 恣縱，放任

    4. delectable a. 美味可口的

    大多數人都知道巧克力由可可制成，它起源于中南美洲。幾個世紀以來，當地的居民把可可看作神的恩賜。但巧克力是怎樣從神的食品變成了愛情食品的呢？

    公元600年左右，瑪雅人是中美洲主要的土著居民。他們建立了第一座可可種植園，并用可可豆為主要原料，制成了一種又黑又苦的飲料，我們叫“巧克力”。瑪雅人相信巧克力具有神秘的特性，也具有商業價值。實際上，可可豆曾經被當作一種與金子等值的貨幣形式！

    西班牙征服者赫爾南多·科蒂斯是第一位了解可可的商業潛力的歐洲探險家。他1519年抵達新大陸，不久就建立了自己的可可種植園。1529年，赫爾南多·科蒂斯回到西班牙，他將巧克力——一種混合糖、香草及肉桂的飲料引入歐洲社會。

    巧克力倍受貴族們的親睞，他們視熱巧克力為一種春藥。隨著巧克力廣為普及，人們發現了一些制造和使用巧克力的新方法。現在，巧克力被人們當作一種可口的美食和浪漫的享受。無論是在美味的甜點里，還是在酥脆的糖果中，世界各地的人們依舊對巧克力迷戀不已。