Cocoa was first cultivated in ancient South America. During the Age of Exploration, the Spanish Conquistadors introduced it to Europe. In the 1850s, steam-powered machines allowed for the mass production of cocoa powder. Today, over 4.5 million tons of cocoa are consumed around the world every year.
Cocoa powder is made from cacao beans, which come from the plant Theobroma cacao L. Cacao beans are the primary ingredient in chocolate, but they can also be ground into cocoa powder. The powder provides many potential health benefits.
