Chocolate dates back an incredible 3,000 years… and it’s still thriving as a popular treat for all of us across the globe.
As a gift, chocolate has evolved over the years, from being used in ancient ceremonies to being presented as beautiful chocolate bouquets, so much chocolate history has changed!
When Was The Chocolate Drink Invented?
With history dating back to 1500 BCE, chocolate has been around for a long time, just in different forms… (and maybe not quite as sweet as the chocolate we know and love today)
One of the earliest known uses of chocolate was by the Olmecs of Mesoamerica (they were one of the earliest civilisations in what is now Southern Mexico.) They cultivated cacao beans and processed it into a chocolate drink. This would have tasted bitter and been frothy, and not like the milk chocolate we know today.
Cacao beans were considered sacred and was likely used in religious rituals and ceremonies and offerings to the gods. Back then, it’s believed it would have been reserved for the elite.
The History of Chocolate as a Luxury Gift
Chocolate has not always been the widely accessible treat it is today. In fact, for centuries, it was considered a luxury reserved for the elite, symbolising wealth, sophistication, and indulgence.
17th–19th Century
Spanish explorers brought cacao to Europe in the 16th century, and it quickly became a symbol of wealth and status. Chocolate was expensive, as well as being time consuming to produce, so it wasn’t a luxury everyone could afford.
In the 1600s, European royals and noble families made drinking chocolate as a delicacy, mixed with vanilla, sugar and cinnamon, it was sweeter than the original Mesoamerican cacao drink.
Once the late 1600s came around, dedicated chocolate houses (think coffee houses!) opened in London and Paris. They were used as meeting places for the upper class.
In France, King Louis XIV made chocolate a courtly indulgence, while Belgian chocolatiers began crafting fine, artisanal chocolates that were seen as a status symbol.
Victorian Era & Milk Chocolate
In 1847, sugar and Cocoa butter were used to make a solid bar, Joseph Fry added melted cocoa butter back into processed cocoa, creating moldable chocolate, making them responsible for the first chocolate bars. (They also made the first chocolate easter egg too!)
Daniel Peter, a Swiss chocolatier, invented milk chocolate in 1875. Peter's neighbor, Henri Nestlé, supplied him with condensed milk, which enabled Peter to create the first commercial milk chocolate bar.
The Victorian era marks an important change in the history of Chocolate, as it’s the time that it became a well loved romantic gift. By this era, it was more accessible, and there were more gift worthy chocolates available.
Inspired by Victorian values of beauty and sentimentality, chocolate makers began selling chocolates in decorative tins and ornate boxes and gifting chocolate like this became a romantic gesture, especially amongst the wealthy.
The Birth of Valentine’s Chocolates (1861)
In 1861, chocolate and romance became intertwined, thanks to Richard Cadbury - now one of the largest chocolate manufacturers.
It was this year that Cadbury introduced the first ever heart shaped chocolate box for Valentine’s Day. They were decorated with flowers and cupids, so they were instantly popular. Once the chocolates were eaten, Victorians repurposed the empty gift boxes to store sentimental keepsakes, adding sentimental value to the gift.
This marketing innovation forever linked chocolate with love, cementing it as a staple of Valentine’s Day and romantic gifting.
20th Century
By the 20th century, the industrialisation of chocolate was well under way, and it was becoming more affordable to the general public as it was in mass production.
Big companies like Hershey’s, Nestle, and Mars managed to develop methods of chocolate production that were quicker, this reduced costs as it wasn’t as time consuming to make making the chocolate industry accessible to all.
No longer just for the wealthy, hot chocolate also became the perfect gift for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and celebrations.
The Rise of Chocolate Bouquets
Today, there are so many creative ways to gift chocolate, making it still an incredibly popular gift. Chocolate Bouquets are one of these creative ways, with modern chocolate bars being made to look like a bouquet of flowers using dark chocolate, milk chocolate bars and white chocolate!
From Malterster to Cadbury, we create a whole range of chocolate bouquets that are sent as gifts all across the UK. From birthdays to anniversaries to Mother’s day, they are the perfect gift for any occasion.
From an exclusive delicacy for European aristocrats to one of the world’s most beloved gifts, chocolate has stood the test of time. Its rich history, association with love, and ability to evolve with modern trends (like chocolate confectionery bouquets) make it the perfect gift for any occasion.