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A TASTE OF HISTORY
The Mayans started the first cocoa plantations in South America in about 600BC. They turned the cocoa beans into a drink they called xocoatl.
In 1505, Christopher Columbus brought cocoa beans back to Spain from his fourth voyage to America. King Ferdinand of Spain was not impressed.
After the Spanish conquest of Mexico, Hernando Cortes returned to Spain in 1528 with secret chocolate-making equipment. Production took place in monasteries and stayed secret in Europe for a century.
Chocolate was drunk rather than eaten in Britain until the Cadbury brothers brought in solid chocolate in 1849.
About 99 per cent of British households now eat confectionery, Nestlé says.
Sales of dark chocolate are expected to rise about 48 per cent by 2010.
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