While I was vacationing in the Yucatan Peninsula, I decided to take a trip to Uxmal, Mexico to visit the Choco-Story museum and learn about cacao in regards to the ancient Mayan culture.
The Mayans were the first civilization to figure out a way to consume cacao (over 4,000 years ago) as they made it into a bitter drink with cacao nibs, chili pepper and hot water.
It wasn’t until the Europeans got involved in chocolate that sugar was added and the chocolate bar as we know it was created.
The Mayans used cacao beans as a form of currency with other civilizations like the Aztecs.
While at the museum I was able to experience a cacao ceremony which was pretty special as I was the only one attending.
Cacao ceremonies help with energetic healing and receiving clarity in the areas of love, purpose, intuitive abilities, career and personal growth. There really aren’t any cacao farms in the Yucatan today as most of the cacao comes from the other regions in Mexico like Tabasco and Chiapas. Cacao first originated in the Amazon region of South America (Peru, Ecuador, Brazil).