This week, we have…

• A fun fact inspired by Metaflora

• Answers to last week's games

• Reader survey

How cacao became a currency in Mayan civilization

At the height of the Mayan civilization, chocolate was worth its weight in gold. Chocolate, derived from cacao beans (Metaflora plant #521), was a prestigious food and was likely used as currency in Mayan times. Instead of using coins for money, the Maya typically bartered, exchanging goods like tobacco and clothing with each other. 

Evidence of cacao being used as currency comes in part from 8th century art, which depicted people exchanging hot cocoa for goods in a market scene. There is evidence of Mayan kings collecting cacao beans and cloth as taxes, which signifies it was likely used as a currency. There’s also documentation of Europeans using cacao beans to pay workers in the 16th century, according to Spanish colonial accounts. Cacao was loved by the Maya, and often enjoyed as a hot drink. Crop failure, drought, and the disruption of cacao supply are speculated to be potential causes of the fall of the Classic Maya empire. 

The process of deriving chocolate from cacao beans is not as simple as just grinding them into cocoa powder. First, cacao pods must be harvested from cacao trees, which primarily grow in tropical countries. The beans must be fermented, in a similar process to fermenting tempeh from soybeans. The beans are then dried, roasted, separated into husks and cacao nibs, and ground up. The Maya would mix this paste with water and other spices and drink it recreationally and ceremonially. Although they are credited with inventing chocolate, they would not have made or eaten traditional chocolate bars as we know them. Next time you’re in a time travel situation and you can pay a visit to 1500 BCE Mexico, bring some Hershey kisses with you and you’ll be very popular!

Learn more: Science.org, Alpha Foodie

Trivia

Answers to last week's games

Monday, March 3 to Sunday, March 9.

Linxicon

The following are the shortest paths from last week:

• #385 all → everything → food → freezer → freeze

• #386 lap → running → blooming → flower

• #387 start → beginning → creation → inquiry

• #388 understanding → playing → swing

• #389 province → geography → curiosity → interesting

• #390 ought → shall → commence → beginning → origin

• #391 toss → flung → confined → limited

• #392 Play now!

Elemingle

• #40 Gadolinium

• #41 Dysprosium

• #42 Americium

• #43 Aluminum

• #44 Hafnium

• #45 Californium

• #46 Chlorine

• #47 Play now!

Forgeous

Play Forgeous for Mar 10