It's strange how history does things. Most major chocolatiers are European and yet, chocolate is of American origin.
Yes, the Aztecs were fond of chocolate. They used it mainly in hot drinks they appreciated for its medicinal and aphrodisiac properties.
As early as 4000 BC, the coexistence was harmonious between cacao trees and the natives in the rainforests of Yucatan and Guatemala. At that time, in those countries where the cacao pod tree grows wild, the tribes only ate the fruit’s pulp, not its seeds. This is normal since, in its natural state, the white flesh is delicious and acidulous, while its seeds are bitter and acrid.
We will never know who was the smartest Indian who, one day, had the idea to grill those almond-shaped seeds, thus discovering a still unknown delectable aroma. "If it smells good, it must be good!" And here he takes a bite and revolutionizes the food world for millennia.
In their early days, the cacao beans were used by natives as a currency. For the Aztecs, a pumpkin was worth four beans and a rabbit, ten. When the beans were worn-out by many barters, they finally ate them.