The introduction of chocolate to Europe is credited to Spanish explorers who discovered it during their explorations of the Americas in the 16th century. Christopher Columbus, during his fourth voyage to the New World, encountered cacao beans in what is present-day Honduras. However, it was Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador, who played a significant role in bringing chocolate to Europe after he encountered the Aztec civilization in present-day Mexico. The Aztecs revered cacao beans and consumed a bitter chocolate drink called “xocolātl.” Cortés and his men were introduced to this drink, which they brought back to Spain, leading to the spread of chocolate’s popularity in Europe.