Although many belive Christopher Columbus has discovered cacao beans in 1502, he did not realize what they were or how valuable they will be! Today historians know Hernan Cortez tried the drink and he is credited with sending cacao beans back to Spain in 1544. The Spanish explorers liked the drink made from cacao, but added something that the Mayans and Aztecs could not: cane sugar.
The Spaniards brought cacao back to Spain, but incredibly kept the discovery a secret from the rest of Europe for almost a century!
