Chocolate is the unique delicacy popular with everyone. Whether young or old, rich or poor, illiterate or erudite, everyone loves chocolate. During occasions of festivity such as Christmas, Easter, Valentines Day, etc. chocolate is a very special treat. During such occasions, chocolates are shaped as per the themes relevant to the occasions. This universal favorite is made from the cocoa beans. These beans are very bitter to taste and hence many other sweet and tasty ingredients are added to it to make it delicious

1. Chocolate is Not Only Nutritional, but Therapeutic Too!

It is reported from studies that chocolate has great health benefits. It has various nutritional values as well as therapeutic effects. It is found that chocolate is helpful in controlling pre-menstrual syndromes, depression, high blood pressure, tumors and the like.

2. First Chocolate from Mexico in 1700

Chocolate has gained universal popularity only in recent times. But it is believed that chocolate was first made in the year 1700. Chocolate was first made in the form of a solid, edible food in Mexico around 1700 AD. In the next century chocolate was manufactured and marketed commercially. The British companies, Cadbury and Fry and Sons began marketing chocolate in the 1840's.

3. Chocolate from Cocoa – “the Food of the Gods”

Chocolate is made form cocoa which was in ancient times called the "food of the gods." Hence the health benefits of chocolate have been widely acclaimed. Chocolate is given and received as a gift because of this nutritious value. It can sustain emotions in human relationships. It is often said that a box of chocolates can help cure a broken heart! Nutritionally also eating chocolate can be beneficial for the health of heart. It can give you better memory and can control hypertension.

4. Caffeine Content in Chocolate

As chocolate is made from cocoa, it contains caffeine. But the caffeine content in chocolate is well below level of beverages like coffee. It would be amusing to know that the caffeine content in a cup of coffee you drink might be higher than that of a dozen chocolate bars. The caffeine content in chocolate varies with the different types of chocolates. For instance, one ounce of bitter chocolate contains approximately 5 to 10 mg of caffeine. If it is milk chocolate it may be around 5 mg. One ounce of cocoa contains around 2 mg caffeine.

5. "Theobroma Cacao" and the Olmecs Tribes

Chocolate is made from the "Theobroma cacao". It is a tree which produces cocoa beans. This plant is believed to have been grown by the people of South America in the Amazon Basin approximately 4000 years ago. Chocolate drink was first made use of by the Olmecs tribes of Southern Mexico. Around 1000 B.C. Olmecs tribes first made use of the chocolate drink.

6. The Largest Chocolate Ever Made

The largest ever chocolate was made by the Elah-Dufour United Food Companies at Turin, Italy, in March 2000. The Guinness World Book of Records states that the largest chocolate bar ever made weighed 5,026 pounds!

7. How to Know the Best Quality Chocolate Bar?

How to know the best quality chocolate bar? The best quality chocolate bar would be even and shiny and in appearance. It should have a pleasant smell of chocolate too. If you bend a corner of the chocolate bar, it will snap off well with few crumbs. Taste it and you will feel it creamy and rich. A good quality chocolate bar will easily melt in your mouth.

8. Annually 3.5 Billion Pounds of Chocolate Eaten in the U.S.A!

It is estimated that in a year over 3.5 billion pounds of chocolate is eaten in the U.S.A! Not only on special occasions like the Valentine’s Day, but on all occasions Americans have a love affair with chocolate. They prefer chocolate flavor to vanilla.

9. Chocolate can Excite and Enthuse You!

Chocolate can excite and enthuse you. Chocolate contains a chemical known as phenylethylamine. In combination with sugar, fat and caffeine, phenylethylamine has been shown to release serotonin and endorphins. These enzymes can make you feel happy and enthusiastic.

10. Why Does Chocolate Melt in Your Mouth?

Why does chocolate melt in your mouth? This is because the melting point of cocoa butter is around 93 degree Fahrenheit. Your mouth has a higher temperature of around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit and it easily melts in your mouth.

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REFERENCES:

1. Taubert, Dirk; Renate Roesen, Clara Lehmann, Norma Jung, Edgar Schömig (4 July 2007). "Effects of Low Habitual Cocoa Intake on Blood Pressure and Bioactive Nitric Oxide". The Journal of the American Medical Association

2. Dakin, Karen; Wichmann, Søren (2000). "Cacao and Chocolate: A Uto-Aztecan perspective". Ancient Mesoamerica

3. Schuier M, Sies H, Illek B, Fischer H (October 2005). "Cocoa-related flavonoids inhibit CFTR-mediated chloride transport across T84 human colon epithelia". The Journal of Nutrition

4. Rankin, CW; Nriagu, JO; Aggarwal, JK; Arowolo, TA; Adebayo, K; Flegal, AR (October 2005). "Lead contamination in cocoa and cocoa products: isotopic evidence of global contamination". Environmental Health Perspectives

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