Skip to content My WebMD Sign In, Sign Up Font Size  Chocolate's
Dark Secret  From religious elixir to lover's treat to health
food? The new truth about chocolate.  If you think chocolate is
heavenly, you're not alone. Chocolate literally is the "food of
the gods" -- that's what its botanical name, Theobroma cacao,
means. But you needn't be divine to indulge. Mere mortals adore
chocolate in all its forms, from the humble chocolate chip
cookie to gourmet goodies, wintry hot chocolate, and decadent
desserts. And to make chocolate even more drool-worthy,
researchers are discovering this ancient treat may have some
modern health benefits.  Q: When was chocolate first discovered?
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back centuries. The Mayans traded valuable cacao beans, from
which chocolate is made, as a commodity. In 1519, the Aztecs
discovered that they could