Cocoa and Chocolate

First cultivated in Mesoamerica, cacao beans are the foundation for making cocoa and chocolate. Our National Museum of the American Indian's 2017 Living Earth Festival featured Chocolate Chat, a lively conversation celebrating the cacao plant, the chocolate produced from it, and the many ways it enriches our cuisine and culture. Learn about chocolate bars in the Second World War. Browse through cocoa and chocolate–related items from across the Smithsonian and watch cooking videos from the Power of Chocolate celebration at the National Museum of the American Indian.