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| A Chocolate Sampler by: Stephanie Bolmer Chocolate and Valentine’s Day go together like peanut butter and jelly. Most of us don’t even question the compatibility of the two. This Valentine’s Day, let’s take a closer look at the world’s favorite treat. Recently, scientists have found traces of chocolate residue in jars in Honduras which they say date back to 1100 B. C. This is interesting, considering that the cultures who get the most attention when it comes to chocolate’s origins are usually the Mayans and the Aztecs. In fact, the word “chocolate” is thought to have come from words which mean “bitter” and “water” in the languages of these two peoples. |
| Bitter water? Yep. Chocolate was first and foremost a liquid luxury. And, as you probably know if you ever swiped a square of your grandma’s baking chocolate, without sugar, chocolate is very bitter. To the Aztecs, this chocolate drink was thought to be the drink of the gods, and to bring power, wisdom, and strength to those who drank it. It was so valuable to them, that cocoa beans were even used as currency. Eventually, chocolate made its way back to Europe on the ships of explorers. (Although when Columbus first brought them back, they weren’t recognized for their full potential.) It was Cortez and the Spanish who first figured out how to make the chocolate suit their taste buds a little better. They added sugar, and the drink |
| became a delicacy that only the nobility could afford. The Spanish kept the secret of how to make chocolate to themselves for an entire century! But, lucky for the rest of us, the secret got out. Soon, the craze spread throughout Europe. But, it wasn’t until the 19th Century that “eating chocolate” as we know it was available, or that milk chocolate was invented in Switzerland. Eventually, chocolate became part of everyday life for people in well- developed countries. You can get it in bars, truffles, drops, “kisses,” or any kind of shape you want. There’s chocolate ice cream, chocolate cake, chocolate-chip cookies, and chocolate-covered cherries. Of course, there can be more unusual combinations with chocolate, too, like chocolate- covered ants. With cocoa powder and chocolate syrup being readily available, you can pretty much make whatever flavor concoctions taste good to you! You might want to think about how much you’re eating and where you’re getting, however. Today, chocolate can be a hot topic of conversation. There are dangers and benefits of eating it. Of course, chocolate is high in calories and fat, especially milk and white chocolate. But, studies show that eating dark chocolate can have a lot of good side effects. It seems that dark chocolate consumption could lower your cholesterol, provide anti- oxidants, and even stop coughing or diarrhea! (Remember that next time you’re sick!) |
| Another area of concern about our chocolate is where it comes from. All of the cocoa farmers in the world are pretty much forced to sell their crops to three big chocolate makers. Sometimes when the price of cocoa beans decreases, they turn to slave labor to keep their plantations going. There’s also the question of how “green” your chocolate is, as well. With these things in mind, you should try to be aware of where your chocolate is coming from. Here’s some good news! You can find sustainable and fair-trade (meaning not contributing to environmental problems and helping small farmers keep their farms going) chocolate! Check out these delicious sites to find a gift you can truly give from the heart: rapunzel.com - chocolatebar.com - dabogachoclate.com (And look for the USDA Certified Organic, Fair Trade Certified, and Rainforest Certified labels on your candy!) |
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