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"  Archaeologists working in the Yucatan peninsula discovered chocolate that is 2,500 years old. Not only does the find reaffirm ancient peoples&amp;#039; preference for chocolate, but, according to the Associated Press, this latest chocolate sighting has led experts to change their views on how the modern day confection was consumed in ancient times. Chocolate residue from the distant past has most often been found on cups, leading historians and archeologists to believe that cacao beans were used to make beverages in Mayan and other pre-Hispanic cultures. However, the discovery announced recently by Mexico&amp;#039;s National Institute of Anthropology and History indicates otherwise. More From Delish: The Best Chocolate Dessert Recipes For the first time ever, archaeologists found the ancient chocolate residue on a plate, suggesting that the chocolate could have been used as a sauce or condiment. Archaeologist Tomas Gallareta stated, &amp;quot;This is the first time it has been found on a plate used for serving food. It is unlikely that it was ground there (on the plate), because for that they probably used metates (grinding stones).&amp;quot; The plate fragments where the chocolate was found date back to 500 B.C. While this isn&amp;#039;t the oldest chocolate that has been discovered in Mexico (other sites have found beverages vessels with chocolate reside from at least 1,000 years before), this is certainly the most interesting in recent years. The presence of cacao on a plate suggests that Mayans may have used chocolate in foods similar to mole, which perhaps points to the history of chocolate use in savory food preparations. More From Delish: Decadent Chocolate Cake Recipes What is your favorite way to eat chocolate? Have you ever tried it in a savory preparation? Find more great food content on Delish:   Search for the perfect recipe from our homepage Find out the latest food news Get a recipe book to save your favorite dishes Sign up for our free newsletters Check us out on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.delish.com/food/news/a39217/2500-year-old-chocolate-discovered/>