History of National Chocolate Milk Day
Would you believe us if we told you that chocolate milk is a magical and sacred drink?
The earliest known use of chocolate was by the Olmec around 1900 B.C., and they enjoyed it as a drink. It was drunk from special round jars known as ‘tecomates,’ which were symbols of status.
The Mayans subsequently worshipped a god of cocoa. According to ancient Mayan written records, chocolate drinks were served at gatherings like weddings and to conclude other important events. They also prepared cacao drinks as offerings to their gods.
Chocolate drinks continued to be medicinal and magical throughout history. In 1687, Irish botanist Hans Sloane was appointed as a physician to the Duke of Albemarle in Jamaica. While in Jamaica, Sloane was introduced to Jamaican chocolate water. He found the drinks to be too bitter and added milk for taste. He realized that chocolate milk tasted good and was also very healthy due to the calcium and protein.
Because of his position, Sloane was allowed to bring the drink mixture back to Europe. He began preaching of the medicinal benefits and selling it to apothecaries.
In 1828, a company in Amsterdam, Van Houten, invented a method for pressing cocoa. This produced a light, fluffy chocolate powder that could be easily dissolved in water or milk. This made chocolate milk even more popular because it was so easy to make.
U.S. brands caught on in the early 1900s with introductions such as Ovaltine in 1904. Chocolate milk’s popularity continued to increase, and now it’s one of the most popular beverages in the world.