Ah, chocolate. Our one true love. We crave it, we hoard it, we indulge in it. Whether you have a sweet tooth or a craving for knowledge, here are a few facts about chocolate to tickle your mental taste buds.
1. Chocolate, unlike money, grows on trees
Chocolate (a.k.a life) comes from the seed of the Theobroma tree. Each of these cacao trees produces roughly 2,500 beans, 400 of which are used to make just 450g of chocolate. And that’s not all! More surprising yet, is the fact that farmers must wait around 5 years for a cacao tree to produce its first beans! Next time you indulge in chocolate, keep these facts in mind and appreciate all the time and work that went into the making of the treat melting in your mouth.
2. Cacao beans were used as currency
Cacao beans were so valuable to the early Aztecs that they used them as a barter currency, exchanging them for food and clothes.
3. 70% of cocoa hails from West Africa
The Ivory Coast and Ghana are the largest producers of cocoa. Most cocoa farms aren’t owned by chocolate-making companies, though. Rather, cocoa is raised by hand, on small, family-owned farms.
4. Chocolate can make dogs and cats ill
Yes, there’s such a thing as chocolate toxicity. Chocolate in all forms is poisonous to our furry friends, meaning no chocolate for them and more for you. Oh well.
5. The smell of chocolate triggers relaxation
Sniffing real (not synthetic) chocolate increases theta brain waves, which has a significant relaxing effect on the brain. Chocolate also contains certain compounds that trigger the pleasure inducing areas of the brain, giving us that feel-good factor so many women swear by.
6. Eating dark chocolate has many health benefits!
Dark chocolate is a strong source of antioxidants, and the higher the cacao percentage in a chocolate bar, the more antioxidants present. Antioxidants are believed to neutralize free radicals and protect the body from their damage caused by environmental toxins.
Dark chocolate also helps lower blood pressure and improves circulation and blood flow to both the heart and brain. Flavonoids in dark chocolate may even help prevent cancer. Another health benefit of eating dark chocolate is that when eaten every day, it reduces the risk of heart disease by one third!
If you too would like to satisfy your dark chocolate craving, come and indulge in our chocolate fondant or another of the delicious desserts available at Hugo’s Pizza & Pasta!
