Final answer:
The Maya's favorite drink was a chocolate beverage made from cacao, known as xocolatl, playing a significant role in their culture, ceremonies, and trade.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Favorite Drink of the Maya
The ancient Maya civilization held chocolate in high regard, not just as a food, but also as a beverage. The most favored drink among the Maya was made from cacao, which they cultivated extensively. The Maya would grind cacao beans into a paste, dilute it with water, and sometimes enhance it with natural sweeteners like honey, creating a beverage called xocolatl. This chocolate drink was not only consumed by the populace but was also part of royal and ceremonial occasions, as depicted on cylindrical vessels from royal courts, which have been discovered by archaeologists. The vessels often illustrated scenes such as the esteemed Maya ballgame and were inscribed with glyphs indicating their use in serving drinks made from cacao.
Contrary to the practice among the Maya, the Kuba society in Africa preferred an alcoholic beverage made from raffia palm trees. It's important to distinguish that the cacao-based drink was a chocolate drink rather than an alcoholic one and played a significant role in both social and ceremonial occasions for the Maya, symbolizing their sophistication in agriculture, trade, and gastronomy. The popularity of the chocolate drink eventually spread to Europe after the West Indies were reached by Europeans in the early 17th century.