Miss Macaroon and World Chocolate Day

October 3, 2024

The History of World Chocolate Day

For World Chocolate Day, we’re taking a deep dive into the history of chocolate and its influence on Miss Macaroon’s home city of Birmingham. Celebrated every year on July 7th, this celebration is supposed to mark the day in 1550 AD that large quantities of cacao were transported from Mexico to Europe. This chocolate-y arrival would quickly grow into a global love of the dark, white, and milky snacks.

Before they arrived in Europe though, cacao beans were regularly used in ancient Mayan and Aztec cultures. These cultures domesticated the cocoa tree over 5000 years ago and would use the harvested beans as currency and celebratory treats during feasts. Once the beans reached Europe, they were appropriated into a sweetly spiced drink that found favour in royal courts and exclusive ‘chocolate houses’.

Cadbury, Birmingham and World Chocolate Day

Fast-forward to 1827. John Cadbury opens a small grocer’s shop at 93 Bull Street in Birmingham, selling drinking chocolate that he would prepare himself with a mortar and pestle. It proves to be such a success that he opened a commercial factory in 1831 on Crooked Street, and produced their first chocolate bar in 1875. Since then, Cadbury has become a beloved part of the United Kingdom’s confectionary scene and has expanded across the world.

World Chocolate Day — It’s for Sharing

Since its start as a local grocer’s shop in the 19th century, Cadbury has been rooted in the Birmingham community for nearly two centuries. Similarly, Miss Macaroon is dedicated to supporting young people in the Birmingham area with the MacsMAD (Macaroons Make a Difference) scheme. With the aim of inspiring and motivating long-term unemployed individuals (between 18-35 years old) to find confidence in the workplace, Miss Macaroon donates all profits into funding this local support scheme.

Much like chocolate is meant to be shared with those around us, Miss Macaroon is a social enterprise that aims to share success with the community. Including one-to-one peer mentoring support, training courses, and CV support, the MacsMAD scheme is just as sweet as a chocolate treat!