Before the Maya carved their cities from jungle stone or charted the stars with naked eyes, they whispered stories by firelight – tales of love, trickery, guardians, gods, and serpents. These weren’t bedtime tales.
They were blueprints for life – telling you when to plant, who to trust, and what might be rustling just beyond the tree line.
And nestled within those stories?
Cacao. Sacred. Divine. Essential. A gift from the gods themselves.
As someone whose journey with chocolate often winds its way through ancient jungles and origin stories, I find these myths profoundly moving. They remind us that chocolate is more than indulgence. It’s history, heritage – and sometimes, heartbreak.
So grab a mug of something rich and warm – perhaps sweetened with honey or spiced with chilli – and join me on a chocolate-scented journey through Mayan mythology.
1. The Legend of the Aluxes
Tiny guardians made from clay, clever as the wind
Pronunciation: ah-LOOSH-es
Meet the Aluxes—miniature spirit beings shaped from clay, animated by ritual offerings and whispered prayers. Fiercely loyal, they guarded fields, forests, and homes. But they were tricksters, too – fond of spooking newcomers or playing pranks on the uninvited.
New landowners were often “welcomed” with mischief – until they left out offerings: food, cigars, honey, or a handful of maize.
Then, and only then, would the Aluxes guard the land as intended.
To this day, many Maya believe they still dwell in the cenotes of Dzitnup and Samula near Valladolid – flickering through shadows like a puff of wind.
Chef’s Pairing: Honey-corn ganache with a hint of tobacco leaf, enrobed in dark chocolate. Playful, potent, and rooted in the earthy magic of the forest floor.
2. The Legend of Xtabay and the Flower of Xtabentún
A tale of two sisters: one loved, one bitter – and the plants they became
Pronunciation: eesh-ta-BYE
Xkeban, deemed a “sinner,” lived with an open heart – generous, affectionate, devoted to the poor. Her sister, Utz-Colel, hailed as virtuous, was cold and proud, untouched by kindness.
When Xkeban died, her grave burst with fragrant blooms. Utz-Colel’s, by contrast, reeked of decay. From her bitterness grew only a cactus. Envious even in death, Utz-Colel returned as the spirit Xtabay – a beautiful seductress who waits beneath the sacred ceiba tree to lure men to their doom.
Yet from Xkeban’s resting place came the flower xtabentún – now used to make the liqueur of the same name: sweet, floral, and dangerously smooth.
Chef’s Pairing: White chocolate truffle infused with xtabentún, layered with honey and candied petals. A sensual tribute to sweetness misunderstood.
3. The Love of Sac-Nicte and Canek
When love defies fate, even empires fall
Names Meaning: Sac-Nicte – “White Flower”; Canek – “Black Serpent”
Canek, warrior-prince of Chichén Itzá, fell for Sac-Nicte, princess of Mayapan – already promised to another. On her wedding day, he stormed the altar with sixty warriors and whisked her away.
Ulil, the jilted prince of Uxmal, declared war. Rather than face annihilation, the Itzá abandoned their city. Temples fell silent. Love, it seemed, had won – but at great cost.
Canek and Sac-Nicte vanished into legend. Some say they live still, hidden deep within the jungle, where love is free from palatial chains.
Chef’s Pairing: Dual-layer bonbon: white jasmine for Sac-Nicte, dark cardamom for Canek. Two flavours in one bite – fragile and bold, like forbidden love.
4. The Dwarf of Uxmal
Never underestimate the smallest among us
Pronunciation: OOSH-mal
An ageing oracle, childless and alone, prayed to the god Chic Chan. Her answer came not as a child, but as a turtle shell. From it hatched a red-haired dwarf – quick-witted and full of destiny.
A prophecy declared the one who played the sacred gourd rattle would be king. The ruling king, threatened, devised three impossible tests. The boy passed each with cunning. In the final trial, both he and the king were to endure a blow to the head. The dwarf survived. The king did not.
Thus, the dwarf became king.
He built the marvels of Uxmal – including the House of the Elderly Mother, in honour of his adoptive parent. To this day, those stones speak of wit over might.
Chef’s Pairing: A cheeky trio: turtle-shell caramel, red chilli heat, and toasted corn praline. Bold and brilliant – just like Uxmal’s smallest sovereign.
Why These Stories Matter
The Maya left more than ruins and calendars. They left a way of seeing – a world where spirits whisper in the trees, love can shake kingdoms, and wisdom often comes wrapped in unexpected forms.
When I teach chocolate, I don’t just talk beans and bars. I speak of people. Places. Stories.
Because chocolate is a story. And every story deserves to be told well.
Event Idea Add-On: “Cacao & Myth” Tasting Night
Bring the myths to life with a candlelit chocolate and storytelling evening. Each legend is paired with its own handcrafted bonbon. Light the fire, pour the cacao, pass the truffles – and let the stories speak.
Suggested Pairings:
• The Aluxes: Honey, maize, tobacco dark chocolate
• Xtabay: Xtabentún and flower white truffle
• Sac-Nicte & Canek: Jasmine and cardamom duo bonbon
• The Uxmal Dwarf: Caramel, chilli, and corn praline trio
Because the Maya believed cacao was the food of the gods. And maybe they were right – because with every sip and every story, it still brings light, connection… and jjust a little bit of magic.