Edible Rhody Kids: Chocolate

Everyone loves chocolate—kids and grown-ups alike. In fact, chocolate ranks as the favorite fiavor of most people in America. And yet, few of us know much about the origins of this popular treat.

The story of chocolate dates back more than 2,000 years, when the tasty secret of the cacao (pronounced “kah-KOW”) tree was discovered in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. The pods of this tree contain seeds that can be processed into chocolate. Ancient Mayan and Aztec people mixed ground cacao seed with various seasonings to make a spicy, frothy drink. Later, the Spanish conquistadors brought the seeds back home to Spain and created their own recipes-and chocolate eventually made its way around the world.

Today, cacao trees continue to grow in the shade of tropical rainforests near the equator.

As rainforests dwindle, however, scientists and researchers are looking into new ways to better manage cacao farms and preserve the environment-and to make sure the world can enjoy chocolate for many more years to come.