Theobroma cacao priests lancing their ear lobes (autosacrifice) and covering the cacao with blood as a suitable sacrifice to the gods. The cacao beverage as ritual was used only by men, as it was believed to be toxic for women and children. The first European knowledge about chocolate came in the form of a beverage which was first introduced to the Spanish at their meeting with Moctezuma in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan in 1519. Cortés and others noted the vast quantities of this beverage the Aztec emperor consumed, and how it was carefully whipped by his attendants beforehand. Examples of cacao
Leucocyanidin Witch Hazel), "Hippophae rhamnoides" (Hippophae berry Sanddorn), "Hordeum vulgare" (Barley), "Humulus lupulus" (bine), "Hypericum perforatum" (perikon Amber), "Laurus nobilis", "Magnolia denudata" (Hsin-I Yulan-Magnolie), "Malva sylvestris" (Blue mallow), "Musa acuminata × balbisiana" (Banana), "Nelumbo nucifera" (Baladi bean), "Pinus strobus" (Eastern white pine), "Prunus serotina" ssp. serotina (black cherry), "Psidium guajava" (Common guava), "Quercus alba" (White oak), "Quercus robur" (Common oak), "Rumex hymenosepalus" (Arizona dock), "Schinus terebinthifolius" (Brazilian pepper tree), "Terminalia arjuna" (arjun), "Terminalia catappa" (Indian almond), "Theobroma cacao" (Cacao), "Drimia maritima" (Sea Squill), "Vicia faba" (bell-bean), "Vitis vinifera" (common grape vine), "Zea mays" (corn, maize), and "Ziziphus jujuba" (jujube, Chinese date).