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# Chocaholics! Cacao trees sprout cacao pods directly from their trunks. The pods are opened to reveal the cacao beans inside. The Maya were using these beans to make a chocolatey drink from as far back as the 4th century AD. However, it wasn't the sweet, chocolatey flavor we crave today, but a mor...

# Chocaholics! Cacao trees sprout cacao pods directly from their trunks. The pods are opened to reveal the cacao beans inside. The Maya were using these beans to make a chocolatey drink from as far back as the 4th century AD. However, it wasn't the sweet, chocolatey flavor we crave today, but a more bitter-tasting version, often laced with chili or vanilla and other spices. The drink was enjoyed by the rich and noble members of society, and the cacao beans were highly valued. They were even used as a form of currency later on in Mayan history. The Mayan word for chocolate is Kakaw. The Maya used chocolate in religious ceremonies, and they also mixed them with herbs to make medicines. **Image Description:** The image shows two panels.  The left panel has a graphic of a Mayan cup filled with a dark liquid. The right panel has a graphic of cacao beans.  Both panels also contain informational text.