Vivani Organic Chocolate
Who of us is not familiar with the sudden craving for chocolate? Especially in stress situations, the feeling is almost overpowering. The cause lies in our genes. From the point of view of evolutionary biology, even as a baby one learns that sweet breast milk results in an extremely pleasant satiety, which is accompanied by loving care. This experience of sweetness manifests itself in the course of life. Already the ancient humans increased their concentration and efficiency with sweet fruits and honey. Today we know the reason for this: Simple carbohydrates like sugars are quickly converted into energy by the body. Various processes in the body cause a high carbohydrate content to lead to an increased serotonin formation in the brain. These serotonins can have a harmonizing and mood-enhancing effect. The saying ”chocolate makes you happy“ therefore is quite appropriate. No wonder it is so difficult to control one's self-discipline. When cocoa beans were still sinfully expensive, this was easier.
There was no money in the time of the Mayas and Aztecs; usually they paid with cocoa beans. In the Kingdom of the Mayas, cocoa was even more valuable than gold. According to the records, the Mayas were the first people to use cocoa beans as a payment method. However, a regrowing currency is permanently threatened by inflation. To prevent this, the cocoa cultivation was strictly regulated. The Mayas were also the first to mix cocoa beans with water, vanilla, chili and other spices to obtain an invigorating drink. But as one literally drank one's own money, this pleasure remained reserved to the nobles and priests.
The traders of the Mayas finally brought the cocoa beans to the Aztecs, where the seeds of cacao also became the dominant currency after a short time. While we now know almost nothing about the exchange rates of the Mayas, some Aztec price lists have been preserved. These provide information about the value of cocoa beans at the beginning of the 16th century. A big tomato was already exchanged for one bean, a fish for three. For a turkey, however, one had to dig deep into one’s pocket and pay 200 cocoa beans. The Aztecs didn’t know any scales. Thus large sums could not be weighed, they had to be counted. The Aztecs did not calculate with a decade, but with a vigesimal system. A particularly important counting unit was ”Xiquipilli“. Xiquipilli originates in military terms and corresponded to a force of 8,000 fighters. Cultivation, transport and trade with cocoa beans was calculated and documented in Xiquipilli. The carriers who brought the cocoa from the plantation to the storage facilities usually carried 3 Xiquipilli (ie 24,000 cocoa beans). According to a Spanish chronicler, the warehouses in the capital of the Aztecs are said to have been home to a total of 120,000 Xiquipilli. At a weight of one gram per bean that would be 960 tons - a fabulous fortune.
Today, cocoa beans don't wind up in the piggy bank, but in chocolate. And that's where they belong. This is impressively proven by the Organic Chocolate Bars by Vivani. High-quality ingredients, a detailed expertise and passion for the wonderful world of cocoa provide for a unique enjoyment. Lovers of dark chocolate creations will be delighted by the fine bitter chocolates with a cocoa content between 70 and 99 percent. Due to their very high cocoa content, the bars are particularly intensive and full-bodied in taste. The noble dark gourmet chocolates are also available in the varieties Cassis or Marzipan Amaretto. Lovers of white chocolate should try the Vivani Organic White Vanilla with ground bourbon vanilla pods. The Italian poet Francesco Petrarca was one of the most important representatives of early Italian literature in the 14th century. Although he did not yet know the delicious cocoa beans in the far-off Aztec empire, a simple wisdom from him has survived the centuries: ”A tiny little sweet can make a lot of bitterness disappear“. – How true!
