Scientists have discovered that the love relationship between humans and chocolates is much older than we think, after the discovery of vessels containing cocoa residue in Ecuador, dating back to about 5300 years.
The discovery shows that human use of cocoa was 1,500 years older than previous evidence, and cocoa production began in the Upper Amazon, not in Central America.
"This finding sets aside any previous claims that the use of cocoa is an invention for the people of Central America," said University of California Archeologist Rosemary Joyce, who did not participate in the new study.
Ancient civilizations in Central America, including Olmec and Maya, have been producing cocoa drinks for ritual purposes since 1900 BC, according to ancient texts and ethnic accounts, according to Science.
The researchers believed that these civilizations were the first to take the cocoa beans from the tree "Theobroma", and then produced a paste of which is used in making drinks.
The new study found that the cocoa tree in the wet forests of the upper Amazon is the most genetically diverse, meaning that the area is where all the wild cocoa trees originally grew, and where humans had the original opportunity to exploit and plant them.
