Ten surprising things you might not know about chocolate
“Nine out of ten people like chocolate. The tenth always lies” is a quote by J.G. Tullius that couldn’t be more true! Chocolate is a fundamental part of what it means to be Belgian. On average, we consume six kilograms of chocolate per person, per year
We use any occasion to enjoy some chocolate or offer some as a gift to our nearest and dearest. Whether it’s to show our partners some love on Valentine’s Day, spoil the children at Easter or get the taste buds tingling over the festive period, chocolate is an absolute must.
Tablets, bars, pralines or nuggets – chocolate can come in many shapes and flavours. Think you know everything there is to know about this sweet treat? Here are ten surprising anecdotes for you. Be careful, though, as this blog is sure to make your mouth water!
1. A little history
Trading cocoa seeds? As unlikely as that may seem, this anecdote is true. Research tells us that the Mayan civilisation used cocoa as a form of money. And history repeated itself in the 18th Century, with chocolate used as payment for soldiers during the American War of Independence.
2. Thank you, Rodolphe Lindt
Before being manufactured as we all know it today, chocolate was mainly consumed as a drink in its early days. In 1879, Rodolphe Lindt was the first to give chocolate its well-known flavour and texture.
The master chocolatier used a conching technique, consisting of kneading the chocolate for several hours to give it a fine, smooth consistency. The chocolate was then spread into tablet moulds to make for a highly attractive discovery!
3. Chocolate and the brain, you say?
Eating chocolate improves your intellectual and cognitive abilities! According to a study by Columbia University, New York, cocoa helps to fight the natural decline of our memory as we age. In short, don’t forget to have your piece of chocolate in fifty years’ time!
Furthermore, according to a study published in 2012 in the New England Journal of Medicine, the amount of chocolate consumed in a given country can be linked to the number of Nobel Prize-winning citizens! Switzerland tops the rankings here, being home to the most Noble Prize winners and the largest chocolate consumption. Read this article to find out more.
4. Chocolate and fridges don’t mix
If you keep your box of pralines or bars of chocolate in the fridge, you should know that it’s something that sends master chocolatiers mad. In fact, chocolate doesn’t like humidity. If it comes into contact with certain foodstuffs that are stored in the fridge, chocolate risks perishing and losing all of its flavour and bite.
Tip: Store chocolate in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight and between 12°C and 20°C.
5. Chocolate protects your teeth against cavities
Contrary to what you might think, chocolate isn’t bad for your teeth. Quite the opposite, in fact! Cocoa contains tannins, fluoride and phosphates: three ingredients that strengthen the enamel while preventing bacteria from embedding themselves in our teeth and creating cavities.
6. The darker the chocolate, the less sugar it contains
The higher the cocoa content in the chocolate, the darker the colour and the more bitter it tastes. The result is that dark chocolate contains less sugar than chocolate with a lower cocoa content.
That’s great news for anyone who wants to limit their sugar intake but still enjoy the pleasure of eating.
7. White chocolate isn’t chocolate
To make chocolate, you need cocoa paste, butter and sugar. Yet in white chocolate, a key element – cocoa paste – is missing. That makes white chocolate an imposter, but also a treat that we love to devour. In short, there’s something for everyone!
8. Bars of gold
Cocoa is a raw material listed on stock markets, just like sugar or wheat. That means the price of a tonne of cocoa beans is no longer dictated by producers, but instead by supply and demand.
Today, even though chocolate is no longer used as a trading currency, it has just as important a place in the global economic landscape.
9. The largest chocolate bar in history
In 2000, Italy held the record for the largest bar of chocolate ever made, weighing in at more than two tonnes. This impressive, colossal piece of confectionery was created by the Italian chocolatier Guido Castagna, who started with a combination of cocoa, sugar and milk.
The bar was so large that it had to be transported in a specially adapted lorry, and was unveiled during a special ceremony organised in Milan.
10. Keep chocolate out of reach of your pets
And last but not least, chocolate is just for humans. It contains caffeine and theobromine, two substances that we can digest easily, but which can prove toxic for our pets.
Now that we’ve come to the end of our ten anecdotes, we’re sure you’re an expert in all things chocolate! You can use your Edenred meal vouchers to treat yourself or your loved ones to some chocolate. What’s more, you can also use eco-vouchers to purchase organic and sustainably-produced chocolate.
Did you already know some of these interesting facts about chocolate? Or do you know other fun facts? Let us know on social media by tagging us on Facebook or Instagram!
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