Six Sexy Semi-Divine Superfoods Of Ancient South America

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A Maya lord forbids an individual from touching a container of chocolate. (Public Domain)

Six Sexy Semi-Divine Superfoods Of Ancient South America

One need not search too long ago into South American history to identify a range of consumable drinks that would challenge and defeat, hands down, any of their modern derivatives - which are mostly fads fluttering in and out of culinary fashion, depending on their marketeers. The term “superfood” in a marketing context of green and brown packaged products, often with leaf designs, offer greater-than-normal nutrient density and a range of health benefits for what amounts to often three times the cost of non-superfoods. Ten years ago, the scientific opinion was split, but nowadays the vast majority of nutritional scientists greatly dispute the alleged health benefits touted by food giants and their alleged superfoods. However, this was not the case of authentic Mesoamerican superfoods.

Aztec men sharing a meal. Florentine Codex, late 16th century. (Public Domain)

Aztec men sharing a meal. Florentine Codex, late 16th century. (Public Domain)

In prehistoric South and Central America the modern concept of ‘health foods’ and ‘superfoods’ did not exist, but without the presence of specific foods packed with nutrition many of the past civilisations would never have achieved the agricultural, architectural and cultural heights that is evident today in their respective temples, monuments and growing terraces. Among the gastronomic histories of South America and Mesoamerica a handful of special drinks became not only cultural traditions, but they were associated with deities and the spiritual destinies of entire civilizations. 


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