Chocolate (pronounced /ˈtʃɑklɪt/ , British English: /ˈtʃɒklət/; it originates from a Nahuatl word meaning "bitter water") comprises a number of raw and processed foods that originate from the seed of the tropical cacao tree. It is a common ingredient in many kinds of confections such as chocolate bars, candy, ice cream, cookies, cakes, pies, chocolate mousse, and other desserts. It is one of the most popular and recognizable flavours in the world.
Chocolate is made from the fermented, roasted, and ground seeds taken from the pod of the tropical cacao tree, Theobroma cacao. The tree is native to lowland tropical South America but is now cultivated throughout the tropics. The seeds have an intense bitter taste, and must be fermented to develop the chocolate flavor. The resulting products are known as "chocolate" or, in some parts of the world, cocoa.
Chocolate, or cacao, beverages were made by many Mesoamerican civilizations in antiquity, including the Maya and the Aztecs. The fermented seeds of the Theobroma cacao tree were ground and mixed with other ingredients such as honey, chile peppers, water, and the ground seeds of other plants.
Today, chocolate commonly refers to bars made from the combination of cocoa solids, fat (usually cocoa butter), sugar and other ingredients. Chocolate bars have a melting point just below body temperature. Chocolate contains alkaloids such as theobromine and phenethylamine, and has numerous physiological effects on the body: it has been linked with serotonin levels in the brain. The presence of theobromine renders it toxic to some animals such as dogs.
Chocolate is often produced as small molded forms in the shape of squares, animals, people, or inanimate objects to celebrate festivals worldwide. For example, there are moulds of rabbits or eggs for Easter, coins for Hanukkah, Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) for Christmas, and hearts for Valentine's Day. Chocolate can also be made into drinks (called cocoa and hot chocolate), as originated by the Aztecs and the Mayas. In England, Samuel Pepys records in his diaries at least two entries relating to "jocolatte" as early as the 1660s. Later, in 1689 Hans Sloane developed a milk chocolate drink in Jamaica initially used by apothecaries, but later sold by the Cadbury brothers.