Monthly Archives: October 2011
Chocolate, A Rising Star In Japan
October 28, 2011
Japan’s confectionery world may be centuries late in regards to using cocoa, but they sure are keeping up and doing very well at it. “Japanese chocolate” may still come off as strange, but cocoa is definitely a rising star in Japan. The once foreign flavor is now starting to become a staple.
Japanese chocolatiers and pastry chefs were the star guests at the 17th Salon du Chocolat which was held in Paris. One of them, Susumu Koyama, even won as the "Best Foreign Chocolatier". Japan was able to outshine other renowned chocolate-making nations such as Belgium and Switzerland. Susumu was born to a family of pastry chefs and claims to be relying on “instinct” and “nature” in practicing his passion.
Since chocolate made from the cocoa bean has reached the Land of the Rising Sun 250 years later than the West, almost all of Japan’s famous and well-loved pastries have zero chocolate content. But today, the number of Japanese chocolatiers is on the rise, and Susumu says he is doing his part to heighten the interest of his fellowmen in chocolate even more.
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White Chocolate Tidbits
October 27, 2011
Despite being classified as 'chocolate,' white chocolate isn't truly chocolate. It may be a confectionary derivative of chocolate as it also comes from the same cacao plant, but its manufacturing process is rather different.
Its process for creation initially entails the drawing out of usable items from the cacao bean. Unlike the conventional chocolate that makes use of the cocoa powder ground from the seeds, the white version gets only the cocoa butter.
Even though the preparation of white chocolate has its similarities with dark and milk chocolate, it lacks cocoa paste, liquor, or powder. Thus, it does not contain the significant properties of chocolate such as thiamine, riboflavin, theobromine and phenylethylamine.
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Chocolate-Covered Cherries
October 26, 2011
Chocolate covered cherries have been around for quite a stretch of time already, its origins can be traced back to the 19th century when the recipe was invented by some candy making companies. Many people have it as their favorite, not only because of the pleasure it gives to the palate, but also because of its many nutritional benefits.
Cherries are known for their important nutrients such as beta carotene (19 times more than blueberries or strawberries), magnesium, potassium, fiber, folate, iron and vitamin C. New studies have revealed that a cherry-enriched diet can lower cholesterol, total weight and body fat, especially along the midsection or more commonly known as ‘belly fat’.
The festive seasons are just around the corner and one of the best ways of showing your affection to your loved ones is through gifts. Give these treats and see the joy on their faces.
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Sweet Tooth Equals Sweet Personality?
October 25, 2011
According to a new study, those having a sweet tooth tend to be friendlier. Volunteers who preferred chocolate over a non-sweet food item were found to have a joyous character.
It was found that the most dominant trait these chocolate lovers have is the fondness for helping others in need. However, it is still arguable whether it was due to chocolate’s mood-enhancing effect or just a natural inclination of the recipient. So don’t get too frantic about having chocolates just yet.
"Our taste studies controlled for positive mood so the effects we found are not due to the happy or rewarding feeling one may have after eating a sweet food," said Brian Meiers, a psychology professor at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania.
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Daintree Estates: Chocolate from Down Under
October 24, 2011
"My dad makes chocolate" blurts out my 5 year old son to his school-mates at class assembly one morning. I'm not sure if that makes me Willy Wonka or just a really cool dad. But launching a brand new chocolate company is no walk in the park.
My friends are a little less enthusiastic; "aren't there enough chocolates already?" Their assumption is that we're trying to compete with the Cadbury's and Lindt's of the world by making something cheaper. Truth be known, there isn't any margin worth getting out of bed for in supermarket chocolates.
So what would make me think I have a snowball's chance in hell at making any profit at all in the chocolate game?
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Chocolate Milk on Halloween
October 21, 2011
It’s nothing different from the regular white milk, only cocoa-flavored! It has the same nine essential nutrients but with a taste children dearly love. To have a healthier celebration of Halloween this year, the California Milk Processor Board (CMPB) which created ‘Got Milk?’ is encouraging families across all California to make chocolate milk the treat of choice on Oct. 31, instead of the usual unhealthy counterparts. Got Milk?, by the way, is an American advertising campaign encouraging the use of cow's milk. The campaign has been recognized as of great help in milk sales in California.
A little piece of candy here and there may not be harmful, but an average Jack-O-Lantern bucket pretty much holds about 250 pieces of candy, which altogether approximately totals 9,000 calories and have about three pounds of sugar. Imagine that going into your system. Even for adults, it’s a heck of a lot!
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How Milk Chocolate Came About
October 20, 2011
Some of the finest chocolates ever created were made by the Swiss. Around 1876, a candy maker named Daniel Peter of Vevey, Switzerland, invented the first milk chocolate. Initially, he had a problem with removing the water from the milk, which caused mildewing.
He then teamed up with Henry Nestle, a manufacturer of condensed milk. They came up with the idea of adding condensed milk to chocolate liquor which is a nonalcoholic smooth, thick, and liquid form of chocolate. It is the ground or melted state of the nib of the cacao bean, the purest form of chocolate. Milk chocolate became famous and well-loved by consumers by the 1900’s, and still holds true today.
There is an array of milk chocolate forms. Hot cocoa is among the list, it is a cocoa powder mixed with milk and sugar and heated until hot and smooth. This infamous beverage never failed to make people warm and give a sense of comfort. Also included in the list are liquid milk products, powdered milk products, granule and of course, chocolate bars. One can the goodness of milk chocolate hot or cold, hard or soft, practically any way you want.
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Chocolate Chip Muffins
October 19, 2011
A muffin is a type of bread baked in small portions. Many forms are rather like mini cakes or cupcakes in shape, although they are often not as sweet as cupcakes and normally lack frosting. Its name was derived from the French word moufflet which generally applies to bread and means soft.
Muffin recipes originally materialized in print by mid 18th century and quickly stepped forward. By the 19th century muffin, as a marketing strategy, men walked the streets of England at tea time. They wore trays of muffins on their heads and rang their bells to attract customers.
As a matter of fact, three states in the United States of America have embraced their own official muffins. Minnesota, Massachusetts, and New York, have adopted the blueberry muffin, corn muffin, and the apple muffin as their official muffin of choice, respectively.
Enough with feeding the brain? Then go feed your tummy.
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Chocolate Is 2011’s Top Specialty Food
October 18, 2011
Consumers of all ages (especially those 24-35 years of age, mostly women) across all USA are embracing specialty foods this year, according to a new report from the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT). Needless to say, chocolate has always been popular. But now, chocolate has already triumphed over coffee as the top specialty food purchase.
For the time being, Chuao Chocolatier in San Diego County has won a sofi Gold award from the NASFT in the hot-beverage category for its Spicy Maya Hot Chocolate. The just-add-water hot chocolate drink is a blend of cinnamon, pasilla chile and cayenne pepper, giving a spicy finish to it. They all come together with a blend of premium 58 to 72 percent Venezuelan chocolate to make this particular beverage gourmet.
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The Chalk & Chocolate Art Tour
October 14, 2011
Eighty students of Royal Oak, Michigan, had a field trip downtown last October 12 and turned a pedestrian plaza on Washington Avenue into a work of art which will be used for the Chalk & Chocolate Art Tour scheduled this weekend. There will be a tent set up at Fifth Street just in case it rains.
Shop curators and restaurant owners downtown will be hanging chalk art masterpieces done by 100 elementary school students in their windows. Also, they will be offering their confectionaries for the first-time affair in Royal Oak.
An opening night party starts at 6 p.m. Friday with a benefit at Fifth Avenue for the Royal Oak Neighborhood Schools art curriculum. The door charge is $40 which includes live entertainment and food from six restaurants and all sales incurred go directly to district art programs.
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