Description
The Latin name for “Theobroma cacao” literally means “food of the gods.” This valuable crop played an important role in many ancient South American cultures and traditions. Both the Mayans and Aztecs believed the cacao bean had magical, or even divine, properties, suitable for use in the most sacred rituals of birth, marriage and death. They also used cacao to create a marital ritual beverage providing one of the first known links between chocolate and romance. The cacao crop was later introduced to India because of the ideal climate, which creates the perfect condition to harvest fruits. Furthermore, cacao is grown as an intercrop between coconut and areca gardens.
