You’ll never guess who invented hot cocoa and marshmallows.

It wasn’t an Eskimo or even the Swiss who invented hot cocoa - we have the Mayans to thank for that. 

Cocoa beverages were an essential part of Aztec culture by 1400 AD and the Mayans later perfected a spicy sipping chocolate, usually served cold. It was a far cry from the sweet Swiss Miss variety of today. The Mayan beverage was medicinal and made from a cocoa paste mixed with water, cornmeal and chili peppers.

Meanwhile, around the same time, Egyptians were busy inventing the marshmallow. That was medicinal too, made from pounding the gummy root of the mallow plant, harvested from swamps. Before marshmallow found it’s way into hot cocoa, it was used to soothe sore throats and as a sticky ointment for wounds.