Interesting facts about chocolate

Chocolate is a food that brings any true sweet tooth to their knees with its wonderful taste. But the history of chocolate, its impact on health and its production and consumption are accompanied by interesting facts that are not known to many lovers of this intoxicating sweet.

Historical facts about chocolate

• The word chocolate comes from the Aztec word xocolatl, meaning ''bitter water'' or ''bitter drink''. The Aztecs consumed chocolate as a bitter drink, hence the name.
• Chocolate is the food of the gods. Chocolate is made from the cacao tree, which is called Theobroma cacao in Latin. The word ''theobroma'' means ''food of the gods'' in Latin. So the next time you reach for chocolate, think about eating food that the gods of old also ate.
• The Aztecs, who were the world''s first chocolate eaters, discovered centuries ago that chocolate was an aphrodisiac. That is why they enjoyed it before going to visit their mistresses. This was discovered by the European conquistadors of Central and South America, who brought this fact with them to Europe. Why chocolate works in this way is not yet fully understood, but scientists believe that theobromine and other ingredients in chocolate act as mild sexual stimulants. Whether this is true or not is certainly a matter of debate. But it is certainly true that chocolate will easily win the heart of your chosen one.
• The first chocolate bar was made in Europe, by the English chocolate factory Cadbury, in 1842. Before that, chocolate was available in the form of drinks, which were quite expensive and practically inaccessible to the general public. However, the production of the first chocolate bar marked the beginning of industrial chocolate production, which brought chocolate to poorer people.

Facts about the health effects of chocolate

• Chocolate is a natural remedy for depression. It contains the amino acid tryptophan, which is used in the body to produce serotonin, one of nature''s antidepressants. So the next time you feel depressed, reach for a chocolate bar and treat yourself to a rib or two. You''ll see that you''ll soon feel better.
• Popular belief says that chocolate is one of the main causes of pimples. Well, this popular belief is not true. Chocolate does not contribute to acne and pimples, and scientific research has confirmed this. What does contribute to pimples is milk, which is abundant in milk chocolate. It is therefore better for people who suffer from pimples to use dark chocolate in this case.
• Chocolate is toxic to dogs and other pets. Theobromine, caffeine and other substances that stimulate our bodies are present in chocolate in excessive quantities and can be fatal to pets.
• Dark chocolate, which is known for its antioxidant properties, has the most positive effects on the human body. For example, dark chocolate has been shown to protect the body against the development of cancer and heart disease.
• The melting point of chocolate is just below human body temperature. This is the reason why chocolate melts in the mouth while it is a solid bar on the table. Melting chocolate in the mouth causes an increase in brain activity as the sensory nerves in the oral cavity are irritated. The increase in brain activity leads to an increase in heart activity, which is even greater than when kissing passionately and lasts up to 4 times longer.

Facts about chocolate production and consumption

• Chocolate manufacturers use 40% of the world''s almonds and 20% of the world''s nuts to make chocolate with additives.
• The favourite flavour in the USA is, you won''t believe it, chocolate. In a survey conducted in America, 52% of adults said that chocolate was their favourite flavour.
• The shelf life of chocolate is about one year. In that time, the substances that give chocolate its flavour and stability have not yet begun to break down. After this time, however, it is possible for the chocolate to taste worse and for other chemical changes to occur in the chocolate which may affect the quality of the chocolate itself.
• In 2000, total chocolate consumption in the USA was over 1.5 billion kilograms. But the world''s biggest chocolate eaters are the inventors of milk chocolate - the Swiss. Traders estimate that as much as 10 kilograms of chocolate are eaten per capita per year in this small Alpine country. We are well behind them, as our per capita chocolate consumption is almost 10 times lower. The average consumer here only eats 1.5 kilograms of chocolate a year.