Cacao has a rich and ancient history dating back over 5,000 years, with the earliest evidence found in Ecuador, where cacao remnants were discovered in archaeological sites. The Mayans revered cacao as a sacred food and believed it was a gift from the gods. They associated cacao with IxCacao, the goddess of fertility, who was often depicted as the protector of the cacao tree. According to myth, the feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl brought cacao to the people, teaching them its cultivation and use. The Aztecs, who followed the Mayans, valued cacao as both a divine offering and a currency. Emperor Montezuma is famously said to have consumed large amounts of cacao-based drinks to maintain his vigor, believing the elixir was a divine source of strength and aphrodisiac powers. Thus, cacao’s legacy weaves together both mythological reverence and its essential role in the cultures of ancient Mesoamerica.
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