By Admin 
Cacao Currency: There was a time when chocolate was used as money. In fact, cocoa beans were used as a well-known form of currency in the ancient Maya and Aztec civilizations. These societies gave so much importance to cocoa that sometimes its actual value was even higher than gold.
a sacred gift from the gods
Cocoa had deep religious meaning for the ancient Maya and Aztecs. They believed that the god Quetzalcoatl gifted the cocoa plant to humans. Because of this divine association, Coke was often called the food of the gods. It played a big role in rituals, ceremonies and in the use of special people. Its sacred status had greatly increased its importance. This gave it a kind of spiritual importance. For this reason it started being used as currency.
valuable because of its rarity
Cocoa trees do not grow anywhere. They require tropical weather, heavy rainfall, moisture and carefully maintained soil. Due to this geographical limitation, cocoa was rarely available in large parts of Mesoamerica. Now because the supply was naturally less, the demand remained high. Economically, scarcity helped maintain its value.
Practical and durable
Unlike many food items, cocoa beans could be dried and stored for long periods of time without spoiling. They were light, portable and easy to count. An energy giving drink could be made by grinding them. Warriors, rich people and priests drank it.
Tax and trade in everyday life
These were not only used in the market but were also collected as tax by the Maya rulers. Farmers and people used to pay part of their tribute in cocoa. It could later be redistributed or traded. In crowded markets, cocoa was used as small change for daily purchases. An approximate comparison of prices is given in old records. A pumpkin could cost four cocoa beans, a rabbit about 10, and a turkey bird could cost up to 100 beans.
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