Who decided to turn chocolate into drinking chocolate?

Chocolate was turned into drinking chocolate by the Olmecs, an ancient Mesoamerican civilization. They were the first people to cultivate cacao trees and to make a drink from its seeds. The Olmec civilization flourished in what is now southern Mexico from about 1500 to 400 BCE. They were known for their advanced culture, which included a complex system of writing, art, and architecture. The Olmecs used chocolate in religious ceremonies and as a food and drink. They made a chocolate drink by grinding roasted cacao seeds into a paste and mixing the paste with water and other ingredients, such as honey, spices, and maize. The Olmec chocolate drink was a nutritious and invigorating beverage that was enjoyed by people of all ages.