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The document discusses the history and importance of chocolate in human civilization. It notes that chocolate originated in Mesoamerica over 3000 years ago and was prized by the Aztecs and Mayans for its taste. Cocoa beans were used as currency and their cultivation was tightly regulated. The Spanish conquest of the 16th century introduced chocolate to Europe, though it was initially consumed only as a bitter drink by the wealthy due to its scarcity and high price.Read less