National Milk Chocolate Day

A Brief History of National Milk Chocolate Day

National Milk Chocolate Day is a food holiday that celebrates one of the most beloved sweets in the world: milk chocolate. While the exact origins of this delicious holiday are unknown, we do know that it falls on July 28th each year. Reader, if you’re a fan of milk chocolate (and who isn’t?), then today is your day! Read on to learn more about the history of milk chocolate and how this scrumptious treat came to be.

The Early History of Chocolate

Chocolate has been around for centuries. In fact, the earliest known evidence of chocolate dates back to Mesoamerica circa 1400-1500 BCE. During this time, the Olmecs – an indigenous people who lived in what is now Mexico – were likely the first to cultivate cacao plants. Cacao pods were used as currency and were often given to warriors as a reward for their bravery in battle.

The Aztecs and Mayans also revered chocolate. For them, chocolate was associated with power and strength, and it was often used in religious ceremonies. The Aztecs even had a goddess of cocoa, Chicomecoatl, who was believed to have brought cocoa plants to earth from Paradise. By the time the Spanish arrived in Mesoamerica in the early 16th century, chocolate was an important part of Aztec society.

Chocolate Comes to Europe

The Spanish conquistadors brought cacao beans back to Europe, where they quickly became all the rage among the aristocracy. At first, Europeans drank chocolate as a bitter medicinal brew. It wasn’t until the mid-17th century that sugar was added to chocolate – and thus, sweetened chocolate was born!

Chocolate soon became a fashionable drink among European nobility. In 1662, King Charles II’s wife Catherine de Braganza introduced tea drinking to England from her native Portugal; at around the same time, chocolate drinking became popular at English court. Drinking chocolate remained a luxury enjoyed only by the wealthy for many years to come.

The Invention of Milk Chocolate

It wasn’t until 1875 that Swiss confectioner Daniel Peter discovered how to make milk chocolate by combining condensed milk with cocoa powder and cocoa butter. Mr. Peter then teamed up with French confectioner Henri Nestle to mass produce milk chocolate and bring it to market. And so began our love affair with this creamy, dreamy treat!

Today is National Milk Chocolate Day, so what better time to indulge in your sweet tooth? Whether you enjoy your milk chocolate plain or with peanuts or marshmallows mixed in, we hope you take some time today to enjoy this delicious treat. Happy National Milk Chocolate Day!