Chocolate Myths and Facts

There has been a perception that Chocolate has many side effects which is actually only a Myth. Some of the common Myths are :-

1. Chocolate is high on Caffeine - Eating chocolate can perk you up, but that doesn't mean it is high on Caffeine. 1.4 ounce of chocolate bar or an 8 ounce of chocolate milk contains 6 mg of caffeine. A regular coffee contains 65-135 mg of Caffeine.
2. Chocolate is bad for Cholesterol as it is loaded with Saturated Fats - Many think the Cocoa butter may increase the Cholesterol level in blood as it contains Saturated Fats. Stearic Acid found in the chocolate has a unique feature as it increases the HDL (good) Cholesterol levels.
3. Chocolate doesn't have any nutritional values - Chocolate is rich in Magnesium, Copper, Calcium, Iron, Zinc. It has phenylethylamine (PEA) which helps in kids neurotrasmitters in brain. Flavonoids a plant based antioxidant tiggers the production of nitric oxide which stimulates the blood vessel to accept sugar thus helping in better control of sugar level. 
4. Chocolate is responsible for tooth decay - Scientists believe that the length of food stay in your mouth and not the sugar content is responsible for tooth decay. Chocolate melts and leave our mouth relatively fast, its the cookies, dried fruits, crackers which get stuck. Infact the Flavonoids helps in slowing down the built up of plaque.
5. Chocolate causes Headache - Studies have suggested that there is no relationship between chocolate and headache. PEA in the chocolate causes blood vessel to expand and contract. It also is a natural mood enhancer, stress reliever and memory booster. So it may have more good than bad effects.
6. Chocolate causes Weight Gain - If consumed in moderation, it can be a part healthy life style. Chocolate helps you to get nutrients like A, B1, B2, B3, C, E and Pantothenic acid and minerals like magensium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium and manganese. All these thinks help in burning out the body fats.

The Making of Belgian Chocolate

In the end of 15th Century, Christopher Columbus discovered the chocolate. The Aztecs drank chocolate well before everybody and they used to use Cocoa Seeds as money and a means to buy Gold.

The Chocolate Recipe was kept a secret for long by the Spanish, but the success of this was so huge that it went through the European borders. It popularity increased with the addition of Sugar, as it became more palatable. Thus each nation found its own recipe and enjoy it.

Belgian Chocolate is unque because of its quality of ingredients and an obsessive adherence to Old Manufacturing Technique even in todays world of Automation and Mass production. Though Belgian Chocolate has been popular since 18th Century, but Jean Neuhaus new process increased its popularity by ten folds. He created a special chocolate called couverteur which has a cold shell which he called pralines.Pralines could be filled with coffee, hazelnuts, fruits or more chocolate. Leonidas, Neuhaus, Godiva and Nirvana are famous for their gourmet pralines.

One technical advantage of Belgian Chocolate over other chocolates is the storage of condition of couverteur before use. Most Chocolate Companies receive chocolate in Solid form which has to be reheated inorder to use it. Belgian chocolate companies often receive their couverteur in heated tanker truck, which helps it to retain much more of the aroma than its cooled variant.

Belgian Chocolate may be expensive but worth an indulgence. Taste it to feel the difference..........

Interesting facts about Chocolate

Some very interesting facts about Chocolates are given below. Go through it, u will find it amazing..........

1. Researchers have found that chocolate was used around 2500 years ago in Central America.
2. Chocolate is known as 'Food of Gods', which comes from the Latin name of 'Theobrama Cacao' for Cocoa tree.
3. More than 70% of American prefer Milk Chocolate.
4. Chocolate comes from the Aztec word xocolati which means Bitter Water.
5. Nearly 70% of world Cocoa is produced in Africa.
6. Twice the number of men, women eat and carve for chocolate.
7. 17000 people in Belgium are working in chocolate industry.
8. Napolean always carried chocolate with him as an energy booster.
9. Tryptopan in chocolate helps in creating serotonin in our body which is natural antidepressant.
10. Approximately 270 cocoa beans makes a pound of chocolate.
11. Nearly 40% of world's Almond and 20% of world's peanuts are used for making chocolate.
12. Chocolate's melting point is just below our body temperature so it melts in our mouth.
13. People spend more than $ 7 billion a year on chocolate.

14. Biggest chocolate weighs 12000 pounds. It contains 1200 pounds of Almonds, 5500 pounds of Sugar, 2000 pounds of Milk Powder and 1400 pounds of Chocolate Liquor.