16^th century Aphrodisiac

Chocolate is a very intriguing snack. Until the 16^th century, cacao beans were enjoyed only by the Mayans. They were not used as chocolate but as a medicinal infusion. The cacao beans were roasted then ground into a paste, along with cornmeal, chiles, and water. Naturally, they loved it. Cocoa has powerful aphrodisiac properties. Montezuma II reportedly consumed large quantities of chocolate to keep his libido stoked.

En route to Europe

After the Spanish’s first contact with the Mesoamericans, the crew of the three boats brought back these medicinal beans to the Iberian Peninsula. In fact, Spanish explorers noticed how appealing chocolate was. Although the bean was not readily popular due to its bitter taste, they soon started to mix cacao pastes with cinnamon and cane sugar to cut the bitterness.

A rich man’s guilty pleasure

This cacao paste, now called chocolate, became a very popular beverage across the Western side of Europe. Nevertheless, it was a beverage only accessible to the very wealthy. After three centuries of being a luxury good, a British company by the name of J.S. Fry & Sons created the first chocolate bar. This was accomplished by combining cacao powder, sugar, and cacao butter. A fellow chocolatier by the name of John Cadbury developed a method to mass-produce these delicacies and make them available for the whole population.

Valentine’s Madness

The son of John, Richard Cadbury, was an absolute marketing genius. During the 1800s, his British family manufactured chocolate and was searching for a way to make use of cocoa butter extracted during the process of making chocolate liquor. Richard Cadbury discovered a way to create chocolate bars that were both tasty and affordable. In time for Valentine’s Day, Cadbury’s created its first heart-shaped box of chocolates filled with fruits, ganache, and nuts. As the decorative boxes can be used to store love letters and other memories, they made thoughtful and tasty gifts for Valentine’s Day.

Chocolate? Flowers? Why not both?

As Valentine’s Day approaches, what better time to show your love to your sweetheart? You may not know what to get your partner, fiancé, friend, or even yourself, but you do not have to feel overwhelmed! With beautiful flowers, chocolates, and candies, we have created a Picaboxx Candy Bouquet just for you.