A chocolate boutique with sweets almost too elegant to eat

Americas Now

The Chocolate House in Washington, DC.

Chocolate has been around for 2,000 years. It originated in Mexico but consumption of it began as a drink. And it wasn’t sweet but bitter. The Aztec and Mayan civilizations believed it was good for their health. Legend has it Montezuma, the Aztec emperor, drank 50 cups of chocolate a day.

Spanish explorers brought chocolate to Europe in the 1500’s but it wasn’t until the 1850’s that the idea of eating chocolate began and the first chocolate bar was invented.

In England “Chocolate Houses” were gathering places – like pubs or coffee houses – where the elite would meet and indulge in the expensive drink.

Today, in Washington, DC there is a “Chocolate House” as well. But it’s a shop. And it’s not just for the elite. It embraces everyone.

For this week’s Urban Voice on “Americas Now” we introduce you to one of the owners of The Chocolate House…Marisol Slater.