The Aztecs used very simple farming tools, usually made of stone or wood, and sometimes copper. Aztecs ate a variety of things such as frogs, grasshoppers, and insect eggs. As for growing food, they grew an assortment of vegetables like sweet potatoes, sweet peppers, beans, chillies, onions, and tomatoes. Aztecs also are famous for making chocolate from cocoa beans. But maize was one of the most important crops that they grew. It was used to make porridge tamales (cakes) and tortillas (dry maize pancakes). Maize cobs were small, and the kernels were often red or black. Since food was very abundant for the Aztecs they did not need to risk the danger of going out of the protection of there walls to find more food.