What was chocatl?

Chocatl was a type of beverage made from ground cacao beans, often mixed with water and spices, consumed by ancient Mesoamerican cultures like the Aztecs and Maya. It was typically bitter and sometimes sweetened with honey or flavored with ingredients like chili or vanilla. Chocatl held cultural significance, often associated with rituals and elite social gatherings, and was considered an aphrodisiac and a source of energy. The drink eventually evolved into the chocolate we know today.