Cocoa comes from a perennial tree that produces oblong fruits. Once mature they take a reddish tone, and they can contain up to 40 cocoa grains each. The Xocolatl was an Aztec drink prepared with a mixture of ground cocoa grains, chilli pepper, cardamom and pepper - a perfect elixir that had assumed the name of food from the gods. It was said that this elixir gave the power and wisdom of the gods. For this reason Montezuma, the last of the kings of the Aztec, was so sweet that it drank up to 50 cups a day!