Take a moment to indulge in World Chocolate Day!  

Did you know that approximately 1 billion people from around the world eat chocolates every day?  

This just shows that many of us cannot resist the temptation of chocolaty treats. Chocolate is also the food of love! It may be recognised as unhealthy, but dark chocolate has many health benefits to creating a calm and happy mood, improving memory and even helps to keep that heart healthy… but remember everything is in moderation! 

What is the story of chocolate? 

Chocolate begins from the pods of the cacao tree and is native to Central and South America. Each pod is usually grown from the trunk and in the larger branches, which contain the cacao beans.  

Did you know cacao is the botanical name for the unfermented beans and cocoa is the manufactured product?  You can find more about the cocoa bean via our Library Search here: 

https://napier.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/44NAP_INST/n96pef/alma99525930102111  

Cacao

Photo by Tetiana Bykovets on Unsplash.

Chocolate is traced back to Mayans where it was consumed in liquid form for celebrations and complimented with most meals. It was often combined with chillies, water and honey. The Aztecs also believed that chocolate was sacred and used the cacao beans as currency- more valuable than gold!  

During the industrial revolution, chocolate was booming. Half of the cacao butter was removed for the chocolate liquor and resulting in a creamier and improved quality. It was the modern era for cost-effective, machine-based chocolate. 

John Cadbury opened the first shop in Birmingham in 1824 and has manufactured chocolate since. Due to the machinery, different types of chocolate have emerged and today it is a highly refined, edible confectionary.   

https://www.cadbury.co.uk/our-story  

Cadbury Bournville Chocolate

Photo by Shri on Unsplash.

Fair-trade chocolate  

Fairtrade Chocolate supports changing the way cocoa is supplied, ethical working conditions and sustainable incomes for farmers and their families. You can recognise the fairtrade on products like this one below: 

Find more about Fair Trade here: https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/Buying-Fairtrade/Chocolate/ 

Cadbury-inspired recipe spies in Roald Dahl’s novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. You can find Tim Burton’s adaptation of this DVD via the library search:  

https://napier.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/44NAP_INST/n96pef/alma9920610750102111  

Let us know which is your favourite chocolate bar in the comments below?  

Find more information  

https://nationaltoday.com/world-chocolate-day/  

https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-americas/history-of-chocolate