Chocolate or cocoa is a food made from roasted
and ground cacao seed kernels that is available as a liquid, solid, or
paste, either on its own or as a flavoring agent in other foods. Cacao
has been consumed in some form for at least 5,300 years starting with
the Mayo-Chinchipe culture in what is present-day Ecuador and later
Mesoamerican civilizations also consumed chocolate beverages before
being introduced to Europe in the 16th century.