900 - 1500
After the Toltecs, the Aztecs established their first communities in Mexico around 1300. By declaring themselves as the descendants of the Toltecs and through clever politics they empowered themselves to conquer an immense territory that covered a large part of the former Mayan territory. The ancient Toltec habits and religion played a key role in the Aztec culture. The Aztecs also worshipped the Toltec king Quetzalcoatl which again makes a link between the Aztecs and cocoa.
Quetzalcoatl – the mythical ancient Toltec king and god – was part human, part snake and part bird. He had a long, ugly face and colorful feathers. According to the legends, Quetzalcoatl received cocoa as a gift from the gods. It was his task to bring it from the paradise Eden to the humans and teach them how to grow different crops.
Quetzalcoatl did his job well. His kingdom Tula was built on the skills of his subjects: they melted and processed silver and precious, green stones and owed their skills to the divine power of Quetzalcoatl. The Toltec culture bloomed and showed great wealth with its houses, its silver and green stones, white shells and its rich soil that provided abundant harvests of maize, cotton and… cocoa.
The Aztecs always believed that the king and god Quetzalcoatl they worshipped would return to Mexico: cured and with a clear mind. In fact they were convinced that Quetzalcoatl would return in the year 1519 on the very same spot from where he had escaped.
Earthenware cocoa pod of the Aztec culture, Mexico
Cup filled with cocoa beans