Chocolate originated in Mesoamerica, where the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec civilizations cultivated the cacao tree. Unlike the sweet bars we eat today, ancient chocolate was a bitter, frothy beverage called 'xocolātl,' often flavored with chili peppers, vanilla, and achiote. The Aztecs believed cacao was a gift from the god Quetzalcoatl and used cacao beans as a form of currency—for example, a turkey could be purchased for 100 beans. Cacao was considered a powerful stimulant and was often reserved for warriors and the elite. When the Spanish conquistadors brought the beans back to Europe in the 16th century, they began adding sugar and honey to counteract the natural bitterness, leading to the evolution of modern chocolate.