Tag Archive: chocolate novelties
The Chocolate Canvas
April 3, 2012
A husband-wife team who has chocolate imaging for business never thought that The Chocolate Canvas would be such a hit in the market.
Having a business of their own while being clients to other people, they have observed that client appreciation is significantly declining. This is according to Sherrie Calvano, 39, a licensed real estate broker. She has noticed that people nowadays greet each other on special occasions through e-mail. Gone are the days when cards and snail mails ruled. This is how they came up with the idea of putting up such business.
With the use of bulk chocolate, along with software and printing equipment purchased from a New York distributor, the couple prints photos from home on edible coins, lollipops, and other forms that can be used for special events such as wedding and holidays.
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Chocolate Wine
March 16, 2012
Andrew Browne, founder of chocolate wine, said: "We thought the market would be female and young, but we’ve found that it has much broader appeal," Be it men or women, and even older and experienced wine lovers, people are raving about the product.
The Chocolate Shop is a brand owned by Washington-based Precept Wine. It was introduced January last year in the U.S. with the use of a Bordeaux blend coming from California, with some sugar and natural chocolate added.
"We called it the chocolate lover's wine," says Browne. In the UK, it was released last November. Here the product would be classified as an "aromatised wine-based drink".
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Salty Chocolate
March 13, 2012
Salon du Chocolat, the largest trade fair devoted to chocolate, takes place every November. A unique fashion show is part of the event in which models walk down the runway wearing little but chocolate. Last year, there were chocolate basques and skirts, gowns imbedded with truffles, and even handbags made out of 70% cocoa solids.
The rest of us eat chocolate instead of wearing it, but there will always be a strong connection between chocolate and fashion. Chocolate never goes out of style. However, the forms in which we want to consume it incessantly change.
The latest trend for chocolate is to taste salty. Odd, eh? During the late 90's, chocolate combined with chilli was all the rage. Today, the combination of chocolate and salt seems to be in. It is said to have started around 2003, the time Gerard Coleman of Artisan du Chocolat devised sea-salt caramels which are tiny orbs of salty toffee covered in dark chocolate and dusted in cocoa.
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Chocolate-Powered Race Car
March 8, 2012
It turns out, chocolate may not only be used as a base material in making food products, drinks, and beauty products, but it could also be effective when used as a fuel. British scientists have developed a vehicle that is powered by waste from chocolate factories. The vehicle runs on vegetable oils and chocolate waste which was converted into biofuel.
Such fuel can be an alternative source of energy to answer the present worldwide energy crisis. The outcome was a vehicle filled with chocolate waste fuel which is able to run fast enough. This car, which is referred to as the greenest of its kind, is expected to reach the maximum of 135 mph when it is on the track. It can actually reach 60 mph from a standing start in less than 2 and a half seconds.
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Chocolate and Diabetes
January 17, 2012
If you have gone through the previous blog posts, you’ve probably read about the astonishing nutritional benefits that chocolate has to offer. Recent studies found out that chocolate, because of the flavonoids it contains, are helpful to diabetic women.
But a lot of chocoholics are still not aware about the goodness of these flavonoids. As a matter of fact, according to the experts from the University of East Anglia, females who are suffering from type 2 diabetes can actually avoid certain heart diseases when they adhere to a flavonoid-rich diet.
These useful substances called flavonoids are usually found in berries, tea, and yes, chocolate. In a recent experiment conducted, 93 post-menopausal women who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes took part. Half of the group was asked to consume 2 bars of chocolate loaded with flavonoids everyday, while the other half was given chocolate that only contained placebo.
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Chocolate That Doesn’t Melt
January 6, 2012
How would you feel if you created something which you originally intended just for fun, and it turned out to be your shot at being a millionaire?
A British engineer from Belfast, Stephen Lennie, aged 43, created the flexible chocolate at home together with his wife, Karen, 42. It was initially just a surprise treat for his daughters Rebecca, Natalie and Aimee just to keep them entertained on rainy days.
People were all the rage about it as more than a million pounds worth of this particular product which they called 'Magic Choc'. The product was purportedly sold mainly as stocking fillers for children last Christmas. They were bombarded with others from countries like Russia, Greece, and South Africa.
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Chocolate Beer
November 15, 2011
Detroit’s darling candy maker, Sanders Candy, has been around for 136 years already. They are known for their delectable treats namely chocolates, cakes, ice cream, among others. Now, they have ventured into adult treats and partnered with another Detroit classic, Detroit Brewing Co., to come up with a refreshingly unique beer, Sanders Chocolate Stout.
Sanders is reportedly arranging for a huge introduction of this 1-year-old Chocolate Stout into the market later this month and is also planning to make a chocolate-based dessert wine.
"Craft beers are becoming more popular as consumers look for local, authentic, handcrafted foods and beverages with passionate food artisans and entrepreneurs behind them," said a spokesperson for the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Louise Kramer. Additionally, "chocolate is hugely popular with consumers of specialty foods." True enough, chocolate was named as 2011’s top specialty food.
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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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Chocolate Boat
October 1, 2010
You know, on Fridays, I like to post something about a recent chocolate news story to help round out your overall chocolate experience.
So I ran across this interesting tidbit a couple days ago. Is it actually news or just silliness? You decide...
A French chocolatier made a strange creation out of chocolate - a real seaworthy chocolate boat. I think this redefines the definition of a "functional food."
He did this to win a bet. I guess necessity is not always the mother of invention. You have got to check out the video of this chocolate vessel and its maiden voyage.
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