MAYA. Stories surrounding the of chocolate can be traced back as far as the mysterious kingdom of the Maya (AD 300 - 900). The Maya believed that the cacao tree and the beans it provided were a gift of the gods, and they worshipped the tree as an idol. For them, the cacao tree was a symbol of fertility and life. Made from cacao beans, these people invented the first chocolate drink (lat. theobroma, i.e. food of the gods). They drank it unheated, and it tasted, despite Chili peppers, vanilla and other flavourings, mainly fatty and bitter. The best part of a cup of chocolate was the much-desired foam which was raised by beating as well as pouring.