Juanita Velasco (Ixil Maya) grinds cacao beans into chocolate during the 2011 Power of Chocolate Festival. The Maya and Aztec peoples valued cacao pods as symbols of life, fertility and even currency.

The Maya, Toltec, and Aztec people started cultivating the fruit of the cacao tree more than 3,000 years ago. Considered the “food of the gods,” the chocolate-making tradition originated in the Maya ...

The ancient Mayans used cacao beans—the principal ingredient in chocolate—as a currency, according to a study published in the journal Economic Anthropology. The research suggests that during the ...

The Chocolate Lab at The Hershey Story never stops concocting new and fun projects for visitors to enjoy. From designing your own candy bar to creating chocolate tulips to learning about the ...

The act of biting into a piece of velvety chocolate can be comforting, therapeutic — even heavenly. But few know the rich history behind this ancient food as well as self-made chocolatier Patricia ...

BROWNHELM TOWNSHIP — The sugary confectionery called a truffle is one of life’s sweet little treasures. Enjoying them is one thing. But learning how to make your own is even better. Just ask Ron ...