Mother’s Day is celebrated on different days and different months depending on which country you live in.  In the United States, it is always celebrated on the second Sunday in May. 

We can thank Anna Jarvis for this great day.  She is the one credited for founding Mothers Day in the US.

How do you choose the perfect chocolate for Mom?

The choices are plentiful (overwhelming, really) and if you have not gone chocolate shopping in a while, you will be amazed at the variety of exotic new flavors and the gourmet quality of old classics.

Narrow down the choices by focusing on Mom’s fondness:

Floral:  try chocolate truffles made with lavender, rose or my favorite, orange and geranium!

Tea:  milk chocolate made with flavored teas and chai spices are absolutely delicious.

Fire:  chili peppers added to chocolate bring out the intensity of the chocolate and of course, give it a kick.

Savory:  don’t judge a book by its cover: chocolate with crystallized ginger, mushroom ganache or goat cheese taste better than you think.

Unique:  www.chocomize.com.  Just go there and check it out!

Posh:  opening a gift box of molded chocolates decorated with sprayed on cocoa butter designs, gold, and glitter will take her breath away.  They might look too beautiful to eat, but do it anyway.  They taste just as good as they look.

Now pair that scrumptious chocolate with a series of chocolate lessons to keep the experience lingering long after Mother’s Day and you’ve got a real winner of a gift!

“Man cannot live on chocolate alone; but woman sure can!”
-author unknown

Just in case you haven’t guessed the obvious… I enjoy eating chocolate, and I want chocolate to continue to be part of my world!

According to the International Cocoa Organization, 2.5 million farmers produce almost 90 percent of the world’s cocoa on about 5-10 acres. Most of the world’s cacao is grown on the small family owned farm.  The best chocolate comes from shade grown cacao managed by farmers using small-scale, low-impact techniques. 

There are still large, old style cocoa plantations in business.  Cacao trees grow best in shade, but on a plantation they grow row upon row in full sun like an orchard.  This practice results in the trees becoming stressed, more susceptible to disease and the soil more quickly depleted of nutrients.   It is a large-scale, chemically intensive operation.

On this Earth Day, I am reminded to support the protection of our agricultural ecosystems as well as our fair trade economic systems.

I recently enjoyed a Divine Dark Chocolate 70%.  Check out the Divine Dark Delights Gift Box at www.divinechocolateusa.com.  Divine dark chocolate has a robust cocoa flavor with hints of fruit and earth and a smooth non-bitter aftertaste.  That is heavenly!

Sweeter still was the warm fuzzy feeling I got from supporting the farmer-owned cooperative, Kuapa Kokoo, and their commitment to keeping chocolate around for a good long time.

Here are some examples:

• January 16 — National Fig Newton Day
• February 7 — National Fettuccine Alfredo Day
• March 23 — National Chip and Dip Day
• April 6 — National Caramel Popcorn Day
• May 7 — National Roast Leg of Lamb Day

And so on…

That all sounds real good, but as a lover of all things chocolate, a subset of the master list fits my style better:

• National Chocolate Mint Day — February 19
• National Chocolate Covered Raisins Day — March 24
• National Chocolate Chip Day — May 15
• National Chocolate Ice Cream Day — June 7
• National Chocolate Eclair Day — June 22
• National Chocolate Pudding Day — June 26
• National Milk Chocolate Day — July 28
• National Chocolate Milkshake Day — September 12
• National Chocolate Day — October 28
• National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day — November 7
• National Chocolate Covered Anything Day — December 16
• National Chocolate Day — December 28
• National Chocolate Day — December 29

As I write this blog, October 28 is coming up fast – National Chocolate Day. Notice, there is not one, but THREE National Chocolate Days.  That’s more days than the number of national days set aside for Christmas.  Of course, you may like to recognize the Twelve Days of Christmas.  In that case three National Chocolate Days comes in second.

Take another look at the list and you’ll see this doesn’t even count Valentine’s Day, Easter, Sweetest Day, or Halloween – four more holidays that often result in the giving and consumption of chocolate!

Do you want a clever and unique idea on how to celebrate National Chocolate Day?  Give the gift of chocolate lessons.  As a student of Chocolate University Online, you or your special someone will receive a chocolate lesson filled with facts and fun EACH WEEK for 40 weeks, spanning across many chocolate holidays!   That’s even more excitement than the 12 Days of Christmas!