Chocolate

Made from the Cacao bean, a plant originating from Mahador, Chocolate is a product that comes and is enjoyed in many forms across Mahador, Arros and Enaskia. Some even say that Chocolate is the single best Mahadorian food and one of the best foods in existance.

History

The first Uses of Cacao

Cacao beans have long been important for the people of Northern Mahador. Starting in the early Second Age, it was used as a currency in the trade between Ak'aaran city states, and the nearby kingdom of Tomboraan instead figured out how to roast, grind and mix the powder with hot water, creating the first pseudo "hot chocolate", but that ancient beverage was quite bitter and only drunk in a religious ceremony before battle.

Ancestor of Chocolate

As the science of metalurgy became widespread in the Golcai valley, the Ak'aaran city states stopped using cacao beans for currency, and instead used metal coins. Meanwhile, they had also stared consuming the Tomboraan drink, but quickly began adding both chilli peppers and later, cane sugar or vanilla to the mix, which created Xocolatl. This drink is still very popular in Mahador, both in the Ak'aaran confederation, and in the kingdom of Tomboraan. Much like its bitter ancestor from Tomboraan, it is drunk before battles, but also during celebrations.

Xocolatl goes international

The Essanian empire was the first civilisation outside of Mahador to take interest in Xocolatl, as they discover it after taking the city of A'anora. It was a massive hit with the empire's nobles, and then, with everyone who could afford it. The locals began producing more of it to meet the increased demand, but the specific peppers used in the coccoction were rare, and soon, they were ditched from the Xocolatl shipped to Arros and Enaskia. At the Same time, in Eastern Enaskia, cane sugar was swapped for honey, as the later was cheaper to get.

Hot Chocolate is invented

A few centuries later, In the city of Nelrasi, in north-western Enaskia, the cacao press is invented, which is able to extract the cacao butter from the cacao bean, which transformed it into a finer powder. This power tasted better, especialy when milk was added into the mix, instead of water.

The Chocolate bar is invented

Finaly, a decade or two later, a chocolatier in the city of Tourain, in the Kingdom of Naurcia had the brilliant idea to recombine the fat from the bean and change the honey back to Maple Sugar. After combining it with powdered milk, he put it in molds to let it sit, and the first chocolate bar was invented. It was a smash hit, and quickly surplanted Mahadorian chocolate, or Xocolatl, in popularity in both Arros and Enaskia. However, Xocolatl remains far more popular in northern Mahador, especialy because of it's religious significance for the region's population.

Material and components

Xocolatl Ingredients

• Boiled Water
• Diced chili pepers
• Cacao powder
• Cane sugar/Vanilla extract

Chocolate Ingredients

• Cacao Butter
• Cacao Powder
• Cane sugar/Maple Sugar
• Milk powder

Geographic Origins

Continent of Mahador

Geographic Distribution

Continent of Arros
Continent of Enaskia
Continent of Mahador

Item type

Consumable, Food / Drink

Raw materials & Components

Significance
In northern Mahador, Xocolatl, and more specificaly the cacao beans themselves, are believed to be a gift given to humans by the gods. The drink itself is believed to provide strenght and a power boost to someone's magic, which is why it is consumed by soldiers right before battle. Dead soldiers are burried with a handfull of cacao beans, which they are meant to be used to pay passage to the heavens. Usage/Consumption
Naurcian chocolate in particular is very versatile, even if expensive. For people who can afford it, chocolate cakes, muffins, chocolate mousse, also invented in Naurcia, are some of the tastiest chocolate desserts someone can enjoy.

"So you're saying that this is xocolatl? It's supposed to be liquid though... why is it dry?"
"It's chocolate, and it is made to be this way. Also, it's not spicy like the drink you know. It's sweet."
"I don't know... I fell like this is blasphemous in some way..."
*mouth full of chocolate* "Nuh-uh, there's no way. It's too good!"

-Calydan showing a chocolate bar to Omaren.