Mayan Culture and Cocoa

A bitter chocolate drink consumed primarily by Mayan nobility, often spiced with chili, vanilla, and other herbs. It was much different from today's sweet chocolate.

Mayans initially cultivated cocoa in suitable climates, but later adapted growing techniques to cultivate the crop in areas like Yucatan, which were less ideal for growth.

Cocoa beans were an important form of currency and tribute in Mayan society, highly valued by royalty and traded among cities.

Chocolate consumption was largely restricted to the Mayan nobility due to limited cocoa cultivation and regional variations.

The fruit that contains cacao beans, growing directly from the cacao tree trunk.

The seeds inside the cacao pods, used by the Mayans to make their chocolate drink.

The Mayan word for chocolate.

The Mayans used spices, herbs, and plants to flavor food and drinks, including chili peppers, vanilla, cinnamon, and honey.

Raised roads built by the Mayans, typically 2-8 feet high and 12-32 feet wide, which connected important buildings and towns.

Mayans used canoes for coastal trade and slaves to carry goods inland, as they had no beasts of burden or wheels.

Mayan traded goods included salted/dried meats, turquoise, gold, and copper from various regions, primarily using cacao beans as currency.

The longest Mayan roads (Sacbeobs) spanned over sixty miles (over 100 kilometers), connecting distant cities.

Large canoes, carved from trees, used extensively in coastal trade by Mayans, roughly 50ft long.

Used as currency for Mayan trade, having a standardized market price.

A bitter, spiced chocolate drink consumed mostly by Mayan nobility, often with chili, vanilla, and other herbs; different from today's sweet chocolate.

Mayans initially grew cocoa in ideal climates, then adapted their methods for growing it in less suitable areas like the Yucatan.

Cocoa beans were valuable currency and tributes in Mayan society; highly regarded by royalty and used in trade between cities.

Limited cocoa cultivation restricted chocolate consumption mainly to Mayan nobility, due to regional variations and trade necessities.

The fruit containing cacao beans, growing directly from the cacao tree trunk.

The seeds inside the cacao pods, used by the Mayans to make their chocolate drink, also used as currency.

Kakaw

Mayans used spices, herbs, and plants to flavor their food and drinks, including chili peppers, vanilla, cinnamon, and honey.

Raised roads built by the Mayans, connecting buildings and towns, ranging from 2-8 feet high, and 12-32 feet wide.

Mayans used canoes for coastal trade and slaves to transport goods inland, due to the lack of beasts of burden.

Mayans traded salted/dried meats, turquoise, gold, and copper from various regions, using cacao beans as currency.

The longest Mayan roads spanned over sixty miles (over 100km), connecting distant cities.

Large, tree-carved canoes, about 50 feet long, used in coastal trade.

Cacao beans were used as currency by Mayans, with a standard market price.