How Chocolate came to be a popular candy item

Chocolate came to be the popular confectionery item you see today due to several reasons:

1. When mixed with several ingredients early European chocolate makers found it was quite sweet and thought it could be pulled of if introduced in its sweet form

2. The Cocoa bitter drink could be spiced and sweetened but also could be made down into a very bitter alcoholic beverage

3. Cocoa beans were extremely easy to grow and transport then other items and also could be used to exchange with the native southern Americans.