Written by: Yashaswi Pradhan - 30036, Grade VII
Posted on: 24 June, 2024
Chocolate, or cocoa, is a food made from roasted and ground cacao seed kernels that is available as liquid, solid, or paste, either on its own or as a flavoring agent in other foods. It was invented in 1750 BC over 5,300 years ago. It was originally made in Latin America/Mesoamerica. It was originally made as a drink but in 1847, it was made as a bar by Joseph Fry. He discovered a way to mix the ingredients of cocoa powder, sugar and cocoa to manufacture a paste with a higher percentage of cocoa butter that could then be more easily molded into a solid chocolate bar. He is generally credited for the first mass-produced bar. J. S. Fry & Sons, Ltd was the first company to create chocolate bars in 1761. This company was owned by Joseph Storrs Fry and his family. The business had to go through several changes of name and ownership which began in Bristol in 1761. They became J. S. Fry & Sons in 1822. In 1847, Fry produced the first solid chocolate bar. After a couple of years, a new company came to the business called Cadbury in 1905. It launched its first chocolate bar called Dairy Milk which we know today. This company was created by George's son, George Cadbury Jr (along with his research and development team). It was the first time a British company had been able to mass-produce milk chocolate. Over the years, different types of chocolate have been produced where there are three main chocolate types; white chocolate, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate. However, the first type of chocolate was a chocolate called Mayan chocolate which was a revered brew made of roasted and ground cacao seeds mixed with chilies, water, and cornmeal. Overall, chocolate has been mixed with different types of food too; with cake, pastries, and drinks too.
