See more than 1,000 chocolate-related artifacts at the Chocolate Museum Paris (Le Musee Gourmand du Chocolat), and indulge your passion for all things related to the cacao bean. The self-guided tour includes live demonstrations and - more importantly - tastings. Children’s activities are provided to keep the little ones happy, including a treasure hunt. Explore the museum’s exhibits and demonstrations which take up 2,789 square feet (850 square meters) and recount the 4,000-year history of the cocoa bean in all its forms, starting with the Olmecs, Mayas, and Aztecs. Learn about the important role cocoa played in ancient cultures, including how cocoa was used in mystical rituals. Move on to the 1500s, when the Aztec emperor Montezuma introduced cocoa to Europe. Christopher Columbus was the first European to taste the tchocoatl drink, but he didn't like it and thus paid little attention to chocolate. Luckily, he wasn't the last European to give it a try. Witness the transformation of the chocolate trade as the chocolate-making process became more streamlined during the modern era. Watch virtual demonstrations to discover the secret behind the shiny outer coat that makes chocolate treats so appealing, and taste some of the chocolate products made on-site. Enjoy the milky smoothness of Costa Rican chocolate, the superb melt-in-your-mouth fruitiness of Peruvian chocolate, the sweet aromas of cocoa beans from Vanuatu, and more. Don’t feel too guilty about indulging; you’ll learn that chocolate has many health benefits. Then, browse the museum shop for books, souvenirs, and chocolate-related products.