Chocolate | Somatic Tools

Chocolate, a global obsession, traces its roots back over 4,000 years to Mesoamerica, where the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec civilizations revered cacao beans as currency and a bitter, spiced beverage. Its transformation into the sweet confection we know today began in Europe during the 17th century, with Dutch chemist Coenraad van Houten's 1828 invention of the cocoa press, which separated cocoa butter from solids, paving the way for solid chocolate bars. The industrial revolution further democratized chocolate, with figures like Joseph Fry and Daniel Peter introducing milk chocolate in the mid-19th century. Today, chocolate production is a multi-billion dollar industry, marked by debates over ethical sourcing, sustainability, and the artisanal craft of bean-to-bar makers.