When did cocoa get discovered?

Cocoa was first discovered and used by the ancient Olmec civilization in southern Mexico during 1900-1500 B.C. The Olmecs made a chocolate drink by grinding cocoa beans and mixing them with water, maize (corn) meal, chili peppers, and other spices. Cocoa cultivation and chocolate making later spread to the Maya and Aztec civilizations of Mesoamerica, becoming significant in their cultures and economies. However, it was not until the arrival of European explorers in the Americas in the 16th century that cocoa and chocolate were introduced to the wider world.