Before the chocolate bar, cocoa was a drink, a ritual and a form of value.

In Maya and Aztec cultures, cocoa featured as a drink, a ritual symbol and a medium of exchange.

Editorial approachCarefully researched, with sources you can see.

Originally published in Bulgarian on 19 August 2026 · English edition published on 9 October 2026.

Culture03

Dark chocolate and cocoa beans being prepared — Cocoa has travelled through cultures, rituals and crafts.

In Maya and Aztec cultures, cocoa had a place in ceremonies, celebrations and everyday life. It was often consumed as a drink rather than as the solid, sweet chocolate familiar to us today.

Cocoa beans were so highly valued that in many parts of the Americas they were also used as a medium of exchange. Cocoa was therefore at once a flavour, a symbol and an economic force.

Sources

Cultural source · Smithsonian Institution →

Chocolate stories.

History

Cocoa’s story began around 5,300 years ago.

Archaeological evidence from Ecuador points to the Upper Amazon as the earliest known centre of cocoa use and domestication.

Read the story →Botany

“Food of the gods”, flowering straight from the trunk.

Theobroma cacao flowers directly on its trunk and branches, while its seeds become the foundation of chocolate.

Read the story →Taste

Chocolate’s aroma begins long before it reaches the factory.

Fermentation and drying on the farm, followed by roasting, build the foundations of cocoa aroma.

Read the story →Quality and storage

Why chocolate turns white — and what bloom can (and cannot) tell you

Fat bloom and sugar bloom can look alike but have different causes. Here is how to read a pale coating without jumping to conclusions.

Read the story →History

From Sant’Alberto to Laica: the chocolate story that began in Arona in 1946

From Sant’Alberto to Laica’s signature, “Love for chocolate. 1946 Arona, Italy”: an editorial account of the company’s growth, automation and continuity.

Read the story →Taste

How to taste chocolate: 7 steps for a clearer impression

Seven steps for a more attentive chocolate tasting, from the first look and aroma to texture and aftertaste.

Read the story →

A taste before a decisionLaica · Lago · your choice

Ask us about samples.

Tell us about your business and whether you are interested in Laica chocolate, Lago wafers and baked confectionery, or both. We can discuss whether samples may be available for your business.

Laica · chocolateLago · wafers and baked confectionery

Ask about samples

This enquiry starts a conversation; it does not confirm samples or a shipment. Product and sample availability are discussed individually.

Let’s get startedThree short questions

Your business
Tell us your business type, city and the trade channel you are looking to serve.
What interests you?
Choose Laica, Lago or both, based on the categories you are considering.
What happens next?
We will follow up to understand what you are looking for and discuss a possible next step.