Programs

This lecture will trace the origins of the cacao tree back to the Amazonian basin. The program will explore how early cacao was domesticated by indigenous cultures and traded north via the pacific route all the way up to Mesoamerica, and how it eventually crossed the ocean to be transformed by European elites into what today we know as chocolate. Ultimately, we will examine the profound shift in cacao's cultural and economic value, tracking its transformation from a revered, sacred beverage of ancient civilizations into a highly sought- after global commodity.