Today, chocolate is a sweet treat that people around the world enjoy. However, its history is quite different from the candy bars we know. The first people to use chocolate were the ancient Maya and Aztec civilizations in Central America. They made a drink from cacao beans, but they did not add sugar. ( 1 ) _______, they added spices like chili peppers and vanilla, so the drink was very bitter and spicy.

For these ancient people, cacao beans were extremely valuable. They believed the beans were a gift from the gods. In fact, the beans were so important that they were often used as ( 2 ) _______. People could buy food, clothes, or even animals by exchanging cacao beans for them.

When Spanish explorers brought chocolate back to Europe in the 16th century, the taste was too strong for most people. Eventually, Europeans started adding sugar and honey to make it sweeter. This new version became popular among the rich, and over time, it ( 3 ) _______ into the solid chocolate bars we eat today.

Today, chocolate is a sweet treat that people around the world enjoy. However, its history is quite different from the candy bars we know. The first people to use chocolate were the ancient Maya and Aztec civilizations in Central America. They made a drink from cacao beans, but they did not add sugar. ( 1 ) _______, they added spices like chili peppers and vanilla, so the drink was very bitter and spicy.

For these ancient people, cacao beans were extremely valuable. They believed the beans were a gift from the gods. In fact, the beans were so important that they were often used as ( 2 ) _______. People could buy food, clothes, or even animals by exchanging cacao beans for them.

When Spanish explorers brought chocolate back to Europe in the 16th century, the taste was too strong for most people. Eventually, Europeans started adding sugar and honey to make it sweeter. This new version became popular among the rich, and over time, it ( 3 ) _______ into the solid chocolate bars we eat today.