Chocolate
Video presented by Vilma Bharatan
With tiny, star-shaped flowers and surprisingly large pods popping straight from its trunk and branches the cacao tree is the source of chocolate. Its scientific name is Theobroma cacao, which means 'the food of the Gods'. The early history of cacao cultivation remains a mystery with many believing the Aztecs to be the first to develop chocolate. However, the word cacao is Mayan (from central America) and analysis of residue from a ceramic 'teapot' suggests that the Maya and their ancestors may have been gobbling chocolate as far back as the Olmec civilization some 3,000 years ago. Join botanist Vilma Bharatan to explore the world of chocolate and the medical properties of this fascinating plant.
- Presented by: Vilma Bharatan
- Date: 25 January 2006
- Duration: 34:58
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The first collected specimen of Theobroma cacao, the plant from which chocolate is made, is kept in the Museum.