Did you know?

More than 25 truths about chocolate:

• The Aztecs were true chocolate specialists. Because chocolate is believed to be an aphrodisiac, women and children were forbidden to eat chocolate and cocoa beans were used as money.
• The Aztecs were convinced that cocoa also came from heaven. They also offered human sacrifices to the gods in thanksgiving. Interestingly, they were also offered a few sips of chocolate before the ritual sacrifice.
• Sugar is also a component of chocolate. Sugar was classified as a luxury food in the Middle Ages because of its extremely difficult availability and scarcity. Compared to milk, sugar was nine times more expensive.
• In 1766, Joseph Fry produced the first chocolate bar. A century later, chocolate has become one of the most popular desserts in Europe and the rest of the world.
• Each chocolate bar contains some milk, and each milk is ''produced'' by a cow. The famous cow with the prosaic name N° 289 gave an enviable 200 000 litres of milk in her lifetime. Can you imagine how much chocolate can be made with that amount of milk?
• It is said that a piece of chocolate should give us enough energy for 150 steps. According to this theory, it takes 35 pieces to cover one kilometre, and 875,000 pieces to go around the world. Can you imagine yourself if you ate that much chocolate?!
• According to statistical analysts, chocolate sales among young people have declined over the last 50 years. The main reason for this is that young people are spending more and more of their pocket money on mobile phones.
• In 2001, on the occasion of the centenary of chocolate, the Swiss Post produced "chocolate stamps" that smelled of chocolate. The pleasant chocolate taste was felt by all those who salted the stamp and stuck it on a letter.
• The first Slovenian chocolate factory was "born" in 1896 in Brestanica. Production was introduced by two French monks at the Trappist monastery. At that time, the factory produced 30 tonnes of chocolate a year for its own use and for the surrounding area.
• In 1922, Slovenians also got their own major chocolate factory. The Zavratnik family founded the second Slovenian chocolate factory in Lesce. After the war, it was transformed into the Gorenjka factory by nationalisation.
• Despite the fact that people love chocolate, animals cannot tolerate it. The reason is an ingredient called theobromine, which speeds up the heart rate and causes poisoning in animals. As little as 50 grams of chocolate can be fatal for a dog. Caution!
• The largest chocolate architectural sculpture was made in February 1991, in Barcelona. The Chocolate Merchant Ship measured 13 metres long, 2.5 metres wide and more than 8 metres high. Unfortunately, it is not known how much chocolate was consumed.
• In 2002, the average person in Slovenia ate 1.8 kilograms of chocolate a year. As was the case then, milk chocolates are still the best-sellers. It is followed by rice and filled dark chocolate. Dark chocolate with various additives is in last place.
• The largest egg ever laid by a hen was measured in England in 2005. It weighed 340 grams and contained 5 yolks. Surprising?
• Unlike vanilla, which has the simplest and most independent taste, chocolate is in a class of its own. According to scientists, chocolate is one of the most complex desserts, containing as many as 250 different individual flavours.
• The world''s largest chocolate biscuit was baked in New Zealand in April 1996. It measured 25 metres in diameter. The amount of chocolate, flour, sugar and other ingredients used is unknown.
• Eggs are also an important ingredient. In 2005, the famous hen with the prosaic name N° 2988 laid 371 eggs in a single year.
• The Dubai company ''Al Nassma'' has produced chocolate from camel''s milk. The company has announced that the milk will be available on the Arab market, and that it plans to enter the American, Japanese and European markets. Can we expect it here soon?
• Chocolate absorbs other tastes and smells. We therefore recommend that you do not store it near chemicals, perfumes, air fresheners, etc.
• Chocolate also contains phenylethylamine, which, together with sugar, fat and caffeine, also found in chocolate, releases serotonin and endorphins - substances that make you feel happy.
• Sales of chocolate products increase sharply in convenience stores during the Christmas holidays. Retailers sell up to twice as many chocolate products during this period than in other months.
• Chocolate milk is said to be the ideal meal after a hard workout. As it contains an excellent ratio of carbohydrates to protein, it is highly recommended for good body recovery.
• Sales of chocolate products increase sharply in convenience stores during the Christmas holidays. Retailers sell up to twice as many chocolate products during this period than in other months.
• Compared to the Swiss, Slovenians eat seven times less chocolate per year. Our annual chocolate consumption per capita is 1.5 kilograms, while the average Swiss eats 10 kilograms a year.
• The most unusual combination of flavours in one chocolate is produced by the Austrian company Zotter. Their chocolate contains lemon, polenta and fruit brandy flavours.
• Today, it is common to find chocolate in solid form, in bars, chunks or candies. However, for most of chocolate''s history, chocolate has been described and understood exclusively as a beverage.
• The first company to produce chocolate from smoked cocoa beans was the Italian firm Rizzati. The best results were obtained with rosemary during experimentation.
• In 1745, chocolate also made its way into European pictorial art. In that year, the French painter Jean-Etienne Liotard produced a pastel entitled ''The Chocolatier'', which is still kept in Dresden.
• The secret of why chocolate melts in the mouth is that the lowest melting point of cocoa butter is around 34 °C. This is also the temperature in our mouths.