1492, Columbus Returns from America: King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella were presented with many different and strange things… the few dark brown beans that looked like almonds were disregarded.
1502, Columbus landed in Nicaragua: On his fourth voyage to America, Columbus landed in what is now called Nicaragua. He was the first European to discover cocoa beans being used as currency, and to make a drink, as in the Aztec culture. Columbus, who was still searching for the route to India, did not see the potential cocoa market that had fallen into his lap, even though he must have delighted in the tastes.
1513, Slaves are Bought for Beans: Hernando de Oviedo y Valdez, who went to America as a member of Pedrarias Avila's expedition, reported he bought a slave for 100 cocoa beans. According to Hernando de Oviedo y Valdez 10 cocoa beans bought a prostitute, and 4 cocoa beans got a rabbit for dinner. I just want the chocolate!
