Happy World Chocolate Day! How It Started and How To Celebrate
July 12, 2022
Ahh my favorite day… Every year on July 7, to honor the art of chocolate making, the World Chocolate Day is celebrated. And what’s the best way to enjoy it? Indulging in our favorite treats without guilt, of course!
World Chocolate Day In The Past
The first World Chocolate Day was celebrated in 2009, but there aren’t enough resources on who started it! It is believed though that it is being celebrated on the 7th of July because that was the day that chocolate was brought to Europe in 1550. Wow, right?
With that, let me tell you a quick back story about chocolate and the chocolate tree.
Chocolate originates from cacao tree seeds which is native to the tropical rainforests of Central America. It was then discovered by the European, and the rest is history. Cacao is a tropical tree whose scientific name, Theobroma cacao, translates to “food of the gods” in Greek. It originated in the upper Amazon basin region (Brazil, Colombia, and Peru).
Cacao pods grow from the trunk of the Theobroma cacao tree. The seeds will then be processed into chocolate liquor and cocoa powder. The earliest known documentation of cacao seeds is way back 1100 BC. And in the Mayan times, cacao beans were even used as barter currency!
What is chocolate liquor? It is the base form of chocolate. It is derived by grinding peeled cacao seeds using stones until a thick chocolate paste is formed and then liquefied. Pure chocolate is actually bitter, since it doesn’t contain any other ingredient.
You can use chocolate liquor to create dark and milk chocolates (white chocolate is a different story). You can also mix it with other ingredients to make ice cream, beverages, and baked goods. Chocolate liquor is also commonly called baking chocolate.
Chocolate has been one of the most popular desserts in the world. If fact, it will be difficult to find anyone who doesn’t like chocolate. Statistics say that around 1 billion people eat chocolate chocolates every day. Whoa! Are you part of that number? Maybe I am!
Health Benefits
Besides the fact that chocolate tastes so good, there are also health benefits from consuming it. According to research, dark chocolate contains antioxidants called flavonoids, that are good for lowering blood pressure and inflammation in the body. It also contains psychoactive ingredients which helps reduce symptoms of depression and it has phenolic acids, which work against inflammation and aging.
It also helps improve your body’s metabolism and nervous system. The secret to this is that an antioxidant epicatechin with just the right amount of B-complex vitamin and other minerals such as iron, selenium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese, and zinc, which are all good for your heart and blood pressure. The higher the cocoa content is, the more benefits there are.
Not a fan of dark chocolates? That’s okay, you can still get the benefits by incorporating small pieces in your daily routine! Check this for tips.
It’s wonderful to think that chocolatiers and their unique methods of crafting chocolates are being celebrated around the world since this process really requires hard work and skill. How about you? How are you celebrating this special day?
Well, there are a lot of possible things to do like hosting a bake-off, watching chocolate movies, shopping for chocolates, and eating some good chocolate bars. Eating a chocolate is like an art so find a comfortable place and take your time enjoying this special day with your precious treats!
I would love to hear about your celebration! Share them in the comments section below. Happy World Chocolate Day my fellow chocolate lovers and I hope you all have a day filled with sweetness and joy. 😊
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