Chocolate is indigenous to the Brazilian rain forest. We don't know exactly where it was first cultivated. One school of thought cites linguistic evidence to say it was in southern Mexico. Some recent evidence suggests that it might have been cultivated in Belize first, and others claim it was Nicaragua. A team at U.C. Irvine is genetically mapping the route of cacao trees from Brazil to--wherever it goes.

Vanilla was cultivated and cured by the Totonac Indians in southern Mexico. Their legend was that the vanilla vine was a celestial being that fell in love with a Totonac warrior. Not allowed to live with a mortal, she transformed herself into a vine that would bring happiness to the warrior's people.

Vanilla is an orchid plant. Orchis = Greek for testicle. The word "vanilla" is derived from the old Spanish "vaina," or "vagina." It referred to the long, slender pod of the plant. Baroque Europeans believed both chocolate and vanilla to be aphrodisiacs.

Note to the person who wants to roast his own: You have to purchase dried cocoa beans. Then you roast them. Then you shell them. Then you grind them. Then you add sugar, vanilla and more cocoa butter. Personally, I don't think it's worth the hassle, other than as a novelty act. You can buy "cocoa nibs," or roasted, shelled cocoa beans. They are great.