Sense of place refers to the meaningful connection between a product and its geographical and cultural origins. For Mexico, that product is cacao. Since the Mokayas—the first sedentary civilization in Mesoamerica—domesticated cacao around 2000 BC in what is now Chiapas, cacao has held sacred status with profound spiritual significance. It became a cornerstone for all subsequent Mesoamerican civilizations.

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With the arrival of Europeans, Mexico emerged as the world’s first global cacao origin. In just over a century, cacao, chocolate, and the stone metate—the primary processing tool before the industrial revolution—were introduced to Europe, colonial America, and Asia via the Philippines. The fusion of cacao and sugar led to the creation of modern chocolate, and the words “chocolate” and “cacao,” derived from indigenous Mexican terms, entered languages worldwide.

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Today, however, Mexican cacao faces a deep crisis, with production steadily declining and an increasing dependence on imports.