The Chocolate Podcast

Ed Easton and Andrew Nason
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Welcome to The Chocolate Podcast, the podcast where we unwrap the rich, sticky, and sometimes bittersweet history of the world’s most beloved treat. From the sacred rituals of the Mayans and Aztecs, to the shelves of modern supermarkets, chocolate has always been more than just mere confection. It’s a symbol, a currency, a craving, and a billion-dollar industry with a not-so-sweet side. I’m Ed Easton - writer, journalist, and lifelong chocoholic - and I’m joined by a man who truly lives chocolate: Andrew Nason is the visionary behind Melt Chocolates. He’s a master chocolatier, a flavour obsessive, and someone who can tell his Forastero from his Criollo with just one sniff. Together, we’ll be digging deep. Tracing the rise of cacao from sacred bean to global obsession. discovering how chocolate has shaped and been shaped by the world around us.  Brought to you by MELT Chocolates! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 3D AGO

    The Amazon Wasn’t Wild. It Was a Giant Chocolate Garden | Andrew & Ed Investigate New Evidence

    Did chocolate really begin in the Amazon rainforest? In this episode of The Chocolate Podcast, Ed Easton and Andrew Nason explore the mysterious Capybara Caves, ancient cave art, lost Amazon civilisations, and the forgotten origins of cacao. We discuss whether the first tree ever painted by humans could actually have been a cacao tree, how ancient Amazonian peoples may have cultivated chocolate long before the Maya or Aztecs, and why the first European explorers were stunned by what they found in the Amazon. This episode covers: The hidden origins of chocolateAncient Amazon cave paintingsThe Capybara Caves explainedWas the first painted tree a cacao tree?Female-led Amazon societies and cacao cultureSpanish explorers in the Amazon rainforestLost civilisations of South AmericaThe history of cacao before the Maya and AztecsIf you love chocolate history, archaeology, ancient civilisations, food science, and untold stories, this episode is for you. FOLLOW for more episodes on the science, history and recipes of chocolate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min

  2. APR 21

    The Hidden History of Chocolate in the Amazon : Andrew & Ed Talk Mayo-Chinchipe Culture

    Chocolate didn’t start with the Maya or Aztecs. In this episode, we go deeper into the Amazon rainforest to explore the true origins of cacao and the early civilisations that first cultivated chocolate. Ed and Andrew break down the latest thinking on cacao’s origins, from ancient Amazonian agroforestry and Terra Preta soil to the idea that the rainforest itself was a carefully engineered orchard. We explore how early Amazonian peoples may have discovered, fermented and developed cacao long before it spread across the Americas. The episode also looks at the role of trade between regions, including how cacao may have moved north while crops like maize moved south, shaping entire civilisations. Along the way, we challenge traditional narratives around chocolate history and uncover the people and environments that made it possible. Topics covered: The origins of cacao in the AmazonAncient Amazonian civilisations, like the Mayo-Chinchipe people Terra Preta and early agricultureHow chocolate spread to the Maya and AztecsThe science and evolution of cacaoFood history and anthropology If you’re interested in chocolate, history, food science or ancient civilisations, this episode offers a fresh perspective on one of the world’s most iconic foods. Follow the podcast for more episodes exploring the science, history and recipes of chocolate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min

  3. APR 14

    The Inca Were Foodie Geniuses? Andrew & Ed Talk Incas

    What if everything you’ve been told about the Inca… is wrong? In this episode, Andrew and Ed go deep into one of the most fascinating civilisations in history - not through war or politics, but through food, science, and chocolate. From 4,000 metres up in the Andes, the Inca built an empire that could transport fresh fish from the Pacific in under 24 hours, engineer vast agricultural systems with thousands of crop variations, and store food on a scale that rivalled anything in the ancient world. But here’s the question that sparked this episode… Did the Inca really NOT eat chocolate? The common answer is no. But after boots-on-the-ground research in Peru, conversations with locals, and digging into recent scientific findings, we’re starting to question everything. In this episode, we explore: How the Inca fed millions in one of the harshest environments on EarthThe genius behind their roads, storage systems, and agricultureWhy your fish and chips might actually be mostly “Inca food”The role of cacao, coca, and other powerful plants in their societyAnd the growing evidence that cacao may have been far more important to the Inca than we’ve been told We also taste some of the rarest Peruvian chocolate in the world - and try to understand why Peru might be home to the original cacao. This is part history, part investigation, and part theory… but it might just change how you think about chocolate forever. — If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow along as we continue the journey into the origins of chocolate. Next episode: we head into the Amazon to uncover where cacao really began. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min

  4. APR 7

    The First Ever Hot Chocolate? Andrew & Ed Explore Mayan Chocolate

    In this episode, we leave the chocolate yurt and head into the Melt kitchen to do something we have wanted to try for a while: recreate traditional Mayan chocolate drinks. After speaking to archaeologist Dr Ed Barnhart about the Olmec and Maya, we became slightly obsessed with one question: what did chocolate actually taste like before Europe added sugar and turned it into the version most of us know today? So we got to work. Using ingredients the Maya would have known, we experiment with chilli, honey, herbs, flowers, corn, spirulina and cacao to make a series of drinks inspired by ancient Mesoamerican chocolate culture. Some are ceremonial, some are medicinal, some are fiery, and all of them are far more complex than modern hot chocolate. Along the way we talk about: How the Maya and Olmec prepared cacao Why the Spanish changed chocolate so dramatically The role of women in traditional chocolate making Why Mayan chocolate was often frothed, spiced and unsweetened How cacao was tied to ritual, medicine, status and daily life This is one of the most fun episodes we’ve made and also one of the most eye-opening. Ancient chocolate was not just a drink. It was a craft, a ceremony and a whole different way of thinking about flavour. If you enjoy chocolate history, food culture, archaeology, hot chocolate, or just watching us attempt to recreate ancient recipes in a modern kitchen, this one is for you. Let us know in the comments which Mayan chocolate you’d actually try. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min

  5. MAR 31

    Who Really Invented Chocolate? Andrew & Ed Talk with Archeologist Dr. Ed Barnhart

    What if chocolate didn’t start as a sweet treat… but as something far stranger? On a new season of "We Need To Talk About Chocolate" we go right back to the beginning — long before supermarkets, chocolate bars, or even sugar — to uncover the people who first discovered cacao and turned it into something drinkable (and possibly a little magical). We’re diving into the world of the Olmec — one of the earliest civilisations in Mesoamerica — and asking a simple question: who really invented chocolate? Along the way, we explore: How cacao was first discovered and consumedWhether the first chocolate was actually alcoholicWhy chocolate was once sacred (and possibly reserved for elites)The surprising connection between chocolate, chilli, and ancient ritualsAnd how these early civilisations shaped the way we experience chocolate today We’re also joined by archaeologist Dr. Ed Barnhart, who helps bring this ancient world to life — from jungle cities to the earliest evidence of chocolate ever found. It’s part history, part mystery, and a completely different way of thinking about something we all thought we knew. So next time you eat chocolate… you might see it very differently. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    56 min

  6. MAR 24

    Is Chocolate the Ultimate Superfood? Andrew & Ed Investigate

    What is the healthiest food in the world? A very normal question. To which we have given a very abnormal amount of thought. In this episode of We Need To Talk About Chocolate, we set out to do something deeply sensible and only slightly unhinged: rank the greatest foods of all time and work out whether dark chocolate can genuinely hold its own against the usual health-food royalty. So yes, kale is involved. Lentils are involved. Blueberries make a strong showing. Walnuts get quite a lot of praise. And chocolate turns up wearing sunglasses and demanding respect. We go through the major food groups, pick out the “GOAT” in each category, and compare them on things like: antioxidant powerfibreglycaemic impactnutrient densityheart and brain supportand how well they actually help you function like a healthy human rather than a collapsing Victorian Along the way we also discuss: why your body is basically a UNESCO biospherewhy your gut is more rainforest than machinewhy chocolate keeps winning categories it has no business winningand why Andrew remains deeply suspicious of lentils as a source of joy This is part nutritional top trumps, part chocolate defence case, and part attempt to answer a question that sounds simple until you actually try. Is chocolate healthy? Can it beat kale? Is there such a thing as one perfect food? And why does this all end with us talking about the Bristol stool scale? There is science. There is chaos. There is a rainbow flag of fruits, legumes, alliums, greens and seeds. And there is a suspiciously strong case for dark chocolate. Watch to the end and then tell us in the comments: What food would you put up against dark chocolate? Because at this point, we’re struggling to think of one. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min

  7. MAR 10

    Is Chocolate Really a Drug? Andrew and Ed Talk Dopamine

    Is chocolate really a drug? In this episode of We Need To Talk About Chocolate, we leave the gut behind and head straight into the brain. We’re talking dopamine - the most misunderstood neurotransmitter on the planet. It’s not the “happiness chemical.” It’s not about pleasure. It’s about motivation. Drugs. S*x. Social media. Fast food. Achievement. Risk. Cold water swimming. They all sit on the same neurological spectrum. So where does dark chocolate fit in? This episode is less about nutrition… and more about how to live well in a world engineered to hijack your brain. If dopamine controls whether you scroll for six hours… or go build something meaningful… then understanding it might be one of the most important things you can do. Dark chocolate plays a fascinating role in that story. If you’re interested in motivation, addiction, neuroscience, performance, or simply why chocolate feels so powerful… this one goes deep. Because sometimes the most important thing isn’t chasing happiness. It’s learning how to chase properly! FOLLOW our channel to hear more amazing facts about chocolate and learn something new about your favourite treat every day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min

  8. MAR 3

    You eat a carpark in your lifetime: Andrew & Ed Talk Fibre

    Welcome back to the We Need To Talk About Chocolate podcast, we're your hosts Ed Easton, writer and journalist and Andrew Nason, chocoholic and amateur chocolate historian. We’re in the Melt chocolate yurt, we’ve got brand new audio gear (so yes… everything is extra crisp), and we’re using that power responsibly by talking about… fibre. That’s right. Fibre. The Cinderella of nutrition. The thing everyone knows they “should” care about… and then immediately ignores in favour of basically anything else. But here’s the twist: dark chocolate is genuinely one of the most fibre-rich foods you can eat. And somehow, even after 20 years in chocolate, Andrew only properly clocked this recently - so we’re making it everyone’s problem. In this episode we cover: What fibre actually is (and why it only comes from plants… yes, chocolate is a plant, calm down) Why you’re meant to eat roughly two full trees worth of fibre in your lifetime (and why most of us are currently operating on “sad bonsai” levels) Soluble vs insoluble fibre, aka “helps your gut garden thrive” vs “helps you actually… move things along” Why your gut microbiome is basically an Amazon rainforest you’re responsible for Why fibre is linked to everything (digestion, cravings, sugar spikes, immune system, mood… the list gets rude) And why milk chocolate is delicious… but not invited to this particular nutrition chat Yes, we do end up talking about poo. Yes, Mozart makes an appearance (unfortunately). And yes, Ed tries to defend pizza like it’s a human right. The takeaway is simple: If you want better energy, fewer cravings, a happier gut, and a body that isn’t running on chaos… you need more fibre. And if you want the easiest, most enjoyable way to start? You already know what we’re going to say. Grab a square of dark chocolate. Your gut rainforest will thank you. (And if you can name a single food that’s more of a nutritional all-rounder than dark chocolate… tell us. We’ll wait.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
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About

Welcome to The Chocolate Podcast, the podcast where we unwrap the rich, sticky, and sometimes bittersweet history of the world’s most beloved treat. From the sacred rituals of the Mayans and Aztecs, to the shelves of modern supermarkets, chocolate has always been more than just mere confection. It’s a symbol, a currency, a craving, and a billion-dollar industry with a not-so-sweet side. I’m Ed Easton - writer, journalist, and lifelong chocoholic - and I’m joined by a man who truly lives chocolate: Andrew Nason is the visionary behind Melt Chocolates. He’s a master chocolatier, a flavour obsessive, and someone who can tell his Forastero from his Criollo with just one sniff. Together, we’ll be digging deep. Tracing the rise of cacao from sacred bean to global obsession. discovering how chocolate has shaped and been shaped by the world around us.  Brought to you by MELT Chocolates! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Ed Easton and Andrew Nason
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Ed Easton
  • Show Website
    The Chocolate Podcast