Most people know that chocolate is made from cocoa and that the origins of chocolate can be traced back to Central and South America. For centuries, the natives there regarded cocoa as a gift from the gods. But how did chocolate go from being the food of the gods to being the food of love?

 Around A.D. 600, the Mayas were the main aboriginal¹ group in Central America. They established the first cocoa plantations³ and used the cocoa bean as the main ingredient in a dark, bitter drink that we would call “chocolate.” The Mayas believed that chocolate had mystical properties---but cocoa also had commercial value. In fact, cocoa beans were used as a form of currency that was worth its weight in gold!

Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortez was the first European explorer to realize cocoa's commercial possibilities. When he arrived in the New World in 1519, he soon established his own cocoa plantation². In 1529, Cortez returned to Spain and introduced chocolate---as a drink mixed with sugar, vanilla⁴, and cinnamon---to European society.

It caught on---especially with the nobility, who fancied hot chocolate as an aphrodisiac. As its popularity spread, people found new ways to make and use chocolate. These days, chocolate is enjoyed as both a tasty treat and a romantic indulgence. Whether it is in delectable⁵ desserts or crunchy candy, people the world over are still in love with chocolate.

1. plantation n. 种植地，农园
2. cinnamon n. 肉桂
3. indulgence n. 恣纵，放任
4. delectable a. 美味可口的

大多数人都知道巧克力由可可制成，它起源于中南美洲。几个世纪以来，当地的居民把可可看作神的恩赐。但巧克力是怎样从神的食品变成了爱情食品的呢？

公元600年左右，玛雅人是中美洲主要的土著居民。他们建立了第一座可可种植园，并用可可豆为主要原料，制成了一种又黑又苦的饮料，我们叫“巧克力”。玛雅人相信巧克力具有神秘的特性，也具有商业价值。实际上，可可豆曾经被当作一种与金子等值的货币形式！

西班牙征服者赫尔南多·科蒂斯是第一位了解可可的商业潜力的欧洲探险家。他1519年抵达新大陆，不久就建立了自己的可可种植园。1529年，赫尔南多·科蒂斯回到西班牙，他将巧克力——一种混合糖、香草及肉桂的饮料引入欧洲社会。

巧克力倍受贵族们的亲睐，他们视热巧克力为一种春药。随着巧克力广为普及，人们发现了一些制造和使用巧克力的新方法。现在，巧克力被人们当作一种可口的美食和浪漫的享受。无论是在美味的甜点里，还是在酥脆的糖果中，世界各地的人们依旧对巧克力迷恋不已。