How did chocolate get in the US?

The history of chocolate in the United States can be traced back to the early 16th century when Spanish explorers brought it from the Americas. Originally consumed as a drink, chocolate began to be manufactured as a solid confection in the 18th century and quickly gained popularity throughout the country.

Here's a brief timeline of major milestones in the development of the chocolate industry in the United States:

1519: Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador, returned to Europe from Mexico with cocoa beans and chocolate recipes, introducing Europeans to the delicacy.

1641: John Endecott, the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, prohibited the sale of hot chocolate because Puritans considered it too luxurious.

1765: Samuel Baker opened the first chocolate factory in Massachusetts and developed a machine that allowed him to mass-produce chocolate.

1828: James Baker acquired Samuel Baker's chocolate factory and expanded it. His innovative use of machinery led to greater efficiency in chocolate production.

1847: Joseph Fry developed the first milk chocolate in England. It quickly gained popularity and made its way to the United States a few years later.

1876: Milton Hershey visited the World's Fair in Philadelphia and became inspired by the machinery on display. He founded the Hershey Chocolate Company in 1894 and built it into one of the most successful chocolate companies in the world.

1900: Daniel Peter, a Swiss chocolatier, added condensed milk to milk chocolate, resulting in the development of smoother and creamier chocolate.

1930: Forrest Mars Sr. and Bruce Murrie founded the Mars Candy Company. Their Hershey Bar rivaled Hershey's chocolate as one of the leading chocolate brands in the United States.

1941: Nestlé opened its first chocolate factory in the United States, further bolstering competition in the chocolate industry.

Today, the United States is one of the largest chocolate markets in the world, with major chocolate companies and numerous boutique chocolate makers contributing to the rich tradition and continued evolution of chocolate in the country.