A sweet discovery: Evidence reveals chocolate enjoyed in St. Augustine in the 1500s

[Adsos Letter]

Source: The St. Augustine Record
By MARCIA LANE

In a plastic container inside the storerooms at St. Augustine's Government House is a slender wooden stick with a carved knob on one end. Think of it as an electric mixer without the electricity.

That humble whisk -- known as a molinillo -- is a big deal to archaeologists because it proves that chocolate dates back at least to the 1500s in St. Augustine.

"It shows a probable connection to Mexico or Central America that St. Augustine had," said City Archaeologist Carl Halbirt. "It's evidence for the presence of the chocolate drink (in St. Augustine)."

The molinillo could also be the earliest evidence of chocolate's presence in North America, although Halbirt won't say that. He can only relate the find to St. Augustine.

Link: http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2009-12-28/sweet-discovery
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Doesn't really seem all that surprising, given the communication between regions of the Spanish Empire in the Atlantic World (which certainly includes the Americas)

[niyad]

1. k and r--very interesting to this chocoholic

[Quantess]

2. So maybe life wasn't so bad back in the 1500s.

A warm bath twice a year, and a little chocolate on occasion!