The History of Chocolate

1500 BC

1500 BCE

The Olmec Indians are the first to grow cocoa beans as a domestic crop.

1492

Jan 1, 1492

Christopher Columbus brings cocoa beans back from the New World.

1700

Jan 1, 1700

It becomes popular to drink chocolate worldwide.

1795

Jan 1, 1795

Dr. Fry invents the steam engine to grind cocoa beans for large scale manufacturing.

1819

Jan 1, 1819

François Louis Callier opens the first Swiss chocolate factory in Corsier.

1860

Jan 1, 1860

Ghiradelli discovers extracting cocoa butter from ground cocoa beans.

1861

Jan 1, 1861

Richard Cadbury creates the first heart shaped Valentine’s Day box.

1879

Jan 1, 1879

Daniel Peter and Henri Nestle create the Nestle company. It becomes the biggest chocolate producer worldwide.