Food is a lot more than just a means of survival. It has a range of different meanings that are culturally specific. It is the link between an individual and the society in which he lives. At the same time, certain foods can evoke memories and feelings and thus change our perception of food. The same goes for chocolate. Despite the long history of cocoa, the story of chocolate as we know it today is relatively short. And yet, the meanings intertwined with it, ever since the Mayan and Aztec predecessors sipped it from mugs, are still carried through all periods of history, albeit in a modified form. However, we must admit that new meanings were formed over time, which were primarily produced by consumer culture. So nowadays chocolate is associated with a wide variety of meanings, both positive and negative – everything from wealth, luxury, power, sophistication, pleasure, health, to gluttony and greed. Due to its price and exclusivity, it also played a special role in gift giving, where it acquired symbolic meanings, such as a symbol of love, romance, and friendship.
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