fun chocolate facts
Q&A: What’s the Big Deal About Lecithin?
August 22, 2014
Recently a reader asked me the following question. It's a good one, so I wanted to answer here on the blog...
What is the big deal about soy lecithin and if most artisan producers manage to do without it, why don't all chocolatiers?
The big deal about soy lecithin is a combination of science and economics.
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Can Chocolate Keep You Awake Like Coffee Does?
August 1, 2014
Do you give in to your nighttime chocolate cravings? Do you nibble on chocolate all throughout the day? Or drink a cup of hot chocolate, maybe? And you wash them all down with coffee? Come bedtime, you're wondering why you’re wide awake when all you did the entire day was run errands and be on the go. Why is sleep not swinging by?
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Midge – The Chocolate Fly
July 18, 2014
Weird is an understatement, I tell ya. I believe anyone would agree if I said the idea of flies and chocolate being in the same sentence is rather repulsive. However, I gotta do what I gotta do.
Chocolate is derived from cacao tree (Theobroma cacao) which is abundant in South America's tropical rain forest. Such trees have flowers, why of course. And these flowers grow directly from the trunk, instead of the branches. When these white cacao flowers are pollinated, they produce the prized seed pods.
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Chocolate As A Substitute For Baby-Making?
June 6, 2014
Mark Miodownik researched the countries that have the highest chocolate consumption. Turns out, they are all located in Northern Europe. Switzerland is the leader; then Ireland followed suit, then there’s the U.K., Austria, Belgium, and Germany.
When you have a little too much time on your hands, you can look up the fertility rates in the said countries. It goes to show that females in these chocolate-loving countries happen to have fewer than two babies (except Ireland and France). Yup, that’s below the replacement rate. If this goes on, the said countries are bound to get smaller with time.
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Excellent Chocolate Destinations
May 30, 2014
Are you a true-blue chocoholic on the hunt for an adventure in new territories? These sugar-laced places will certainly satisfy the wanderlust in you as well as your sweet-tooth cravings all at the same time!
Montreux-Gruyères-Broc, Switzerland
Boring commutes are old news in Switzerland. You can ride the 19th-century belle époque Pullman car that runs from Montreux to Broc and swing by some infamous food destinations along the way.
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Eat Chocolate, Slow Down Aging Process
May 23, 2014
Going grocery shopping? Make sure you add chocolates to your shopping list. Why? I said it a million times, it acts like serotonin in your brain -- it makes you happy! On top of that, the catechins in chocolate help keep wrinkles away.
See to it that you buy dark chocolate with at least 85% cacao, though. Otherwise, the sugars undo what chocolate does. You body may be older than you would like it to be, however you can still do something to slow down the aging process. Here are some tips to heed:
Chocolate Cravings Explained
April 4, 2014
Chocolate is one of the world’s favorite things. It’s way beyond just a treat. It’s unimaginable, even, to know there’s chocolate in the pantry and just ignore it. Why can’t we just resist its allure? Why can’t we do without it? The psychology behind these intense chocolate cravings is becoming more and more controversial a topic for researchers.
Dr. Amy Jo Stavnezer, a professor of psychology and neuroscience, can give some explanation for the existence of such cravings. “The experience of eating chocolate releases dopamine in particular brain regions. That same dopamine is released during sex, laughter and other activities that are enjoyable. Moreover, the frontal lobe creates a memory of this experience, so whenever people think of chocolate, the brain craves for that same experience again.”, she says.
Basking In The Awesome Chocolate
November 8, 2013
Below are the reasons why you should always save some space for chocolate on your plate.
- Chocolate is good for your heart.
Daily consumption of chocolate may cut down one’s risk of suffering from a heart attack and even stroke.
- Chocolate can help you shed some unwanted pounds.
People have this notion that chocolate makes you fat. It’s not always the case. Research has shown that a person who gets his chocolate fix on a regular basis is more likely to be slim than one who doesn’t. Turns out, a person who eats chocolate five times per week or more has a lower BMI (Body Mass Index) than those who eat chocolate less frequently.
Dark Chocolate – The Dessert of the Modern Age
November 1, 2013
Want something to balance the savory taste of your meal? Choose dark chocolate. Even a little can do the trick, that’s why it’s the go-to dessert of a lot of people leaning towards a healthy lifestyle.
Here are a few ways you can savor dark chocolate:
1. Make it you workday treat!
In the middle of a particularly demanding day, take a break, and much on some dark chocolate. It will melt away stress as it melts in your mouth.
2. Make it a staple in your relaxing ritual.
"Me time" is not complete without your heartwarming comfort food. Cap off the experience with some dark chocolate in hand.