World Chocolate Day is Almost Here!
Chocolate Day is coming up on July 7th, and if you ask us, that’s reason enough to break out a bar—and not just any bar. At 7 Summits Snacks, we believe chocolate is more than a sweet treat. It’s fuel. It’s function. It’s flavour-packed nourishment rooted in centuries of tradition, culture, and adventure.
Let’s take a step back and look at where it all began—and how we got from ceremonial cacao to the functional chocolate bars that power your everyday movement today.
A Gift from the Gods
The story of chocolate begins long before it filled bar wrappers and café cups. In ancient Mesoamerica, the Maya and Aztec civilizations revered cacao as a sacred crop. Known as xocolatl, the bitter, frothy drink made from roasted cacao beans was believed to be a gift from the gods. It was used in rituals, medicine, and even currency. Imagine trading cacao beans for everyday essentials—that’s how valuable they were.
Aztec emperor Montezuma II reportedly drank cacao by the gallon to boost his strength and stamina. Sound familiar? We like to think of it as an early endorsement of performance nutrition.
From Ritual to Royalty
When Spanish explorers brought cacao back to Europe in the 16th century, it was still consumed as a drink—this time sweetened with sugar and cinnamon. It quickly became a luxury reserved for the aristocracy. By the 17th century, European nobility were sipping hot chocolate in gilded salons, fuelling political debates and creative musings.
It wasn’t until the 1800s that chocolate became what we recognize today: the solid bar. Thanks to innovations in processing, cacao butter was separated from cacao solids, making it possible to mold chocolate into bars and bites. What was once ceremonial became everyday—though we’d argue chocolate still deserves reverence.
The Enduring Legacy of Cacao
Chocolate has remained a staple across centuries, cultures, and continents—not just because it’s delicious, but because it does something. Dark chocolate, in particular, is rich in flavanols and antioxidants that can improve blood flow, enhance mood, and support brain function. It's no wonder cacao was once considered both food and medicine.
What also sets cacao apart is its natural energizing properties. It contains theobromine, a gentle stimulant that boosts alertness and energy without the jittery crash often associated with caffeine. Combined with small amounts of naturally occurring caffeine, dark chocolate offers a steady, sustained lift—perfect for both physical endurance and mental focus. It’s one more reason cacao has stood the test of time as a powerful, functional food.
At 7 Summits Snacks, we honour this tradition by crafting chocolate that fuels the modern adventurer. Our bars are infused with purpose—from wild Canadian blueberries and golden berries to performance-boosting carbohydrates—while still staying true to the heart of cacao.
A Sweet Celebration of History and Function
So today, as you unwrap your favourite chocolate bar, take a moment to savour not just the taste—but the thousands of years of tradition, innovation, and culture behind it.
Because when we say chocolate is fuel, we mean it in every sense of the word. Click here to stock up on chocolate.
P.S. We’ve got something extra special planned to celebrate World Chocolate Day next Monday, July 7th. Keep your eyes on our Instagram and Facebook—you won’t want to miss this one-day-only treat. 🍫😉