Chocolate : What Makes Chocolate So Good?

The two most common flavors of sweets are undoubtedly chocolate and vanilla. For years, people have been debating between the two attempting to conclude the ultimate flavor. Polls in which the participants choose their favorite flavor are also ways the world has decided which flavor was preferred more. Results show that vanilla had been the most desired, with chocolate following not too far behind. These two flavors have been grown and processed for the masses for centuries. However, out of the two flavors, vanilla has a more complicated natural growing and production process.

Clare’s Chocolate Cafes has always used good quality cocoa to make their chocolate products. This is, in itself, an amazing marketing product because customers know that while they may be paying a little bit more, the product is worth it. As well, the organization makes a wise customer draw when each hot beverage is served with a high quality chocolate product. The early practice of making chocolate products by hand and providing individual or pre-packaged products, of all sizes, for the customer to select, was

People are not prone to agree with one another. If you gather a dozen people together for a dinner party and the subject turns to politics or religion, then there is inevitably going to be an argument. There is one thing, however, that there is a near universal consensus on: chocolate is a wonderful and delicious thing.

Since the creation of Hershey’s chocolate, chocolate today has taken on many different flavors and shapes.

Kelly McCarthy wrote an article “Cookie Monster” which she included that a person may be using food to change their mood. She questioned: When you’re feeling blue, is the cookie jar your best friend? What about when you’re happy? McCarthy stated we tend to think of emotional eating as only for the depressed, but new research indicates that even people who say they are happy tend to throw back a couple of chocolate bars if they think the sweets will help them stay upbeat. A study published recently in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology revealed that about twice as many university students ate cookies, pretzels and cheese when they thought the food would affect their mood. Some thought the snack would make them feel happier, but others thought it would simply keep them feeling good. Both of these articles summarize the findings of psychological

Theobromine is a close structural relative of caffeine, but has one-tenth the stimulating effect caffeine has. Although theobromine is a weak stimulant, it can increase pulse rate. And, withdrawal from theobromine has been found to cause migraines. The level of theobromine in commercial chocolate varies from bar to bar. Milk chocolate bars contain the lowest levels of theobromine. Thus, it is unlikely that theobromine alone is responsible for chocolate cravings (3), (4).

“The Dark Side of Chocolate” is a documentary that explores the underlying issues prevalent in the cocoa trade. For most first world countries chocolate is seen as an accessible treat, however in third world countries, the production of cocoa creates social issues that must be eliminated. Cocoa trade is one of the largest industries in West African countries, but the issues that arise from such trade do more harm than good. The cocoa plantations are trafficking humans to work on their plantations. Furthermore, most instances suggest that these workers do not receive any compensation for their work and most importantly some of these slave laborers are children. Thus, the three issues that the cocoa companies routinely commit in exchange for lower costs are human trafficking, slave labor, and child labor. These companies are aware of such issues but refuse to actively combat them because they are better off financially. It can be argued that these issues can be mitigated through various social, governmental and political policies aimed at combating these problems. The three main issues will be addressed and the various stakeholders affected by these issues will be analyzed. Then this paper will look at the possible solutions to these issues, whereby through government, social or political means.

Through a series of BASES screening and concept tests, an original set of 45 ideas for concept development was first narrowed down to 12, then to 5. Of these final five concepts, all involved dark chocolate with fruit. Further research found that when comparing the taste of 70% cocoa to 90%, consumers preferred the 70% mix with the top three fruit flavors being cranberry, pomegranate, and blueberry.

Chocolate became “a respected scholarly subject” only in recent decades suffering from “puritanical prohibitions” of discussing food or writing about it that were recognized standards of behavior in the Western world. The reviewed book The True History of Chocolate is a valuable addition to what the public knows or, rather, does not know about chocolate, with an interesting historical background that makes an entertaining and useful reading and extends one’s knowledge of things we use daily, sometimes without realizing their long history of evolution and multiple meanings.

The sweet taste of chocolate also triggers the release of endorphins. These create an elated feeling, and decreased sensitivity to pain. Women also tend to crave chocolate.

Fiona Balloch requested the report to be generated to provide information on the structure of Joy of Chocolate and CG Chocolates. The purpose of the

Chocolate contains many chemicals which affect the brain. The three primary chemicals are caffeine, theobromine, and tryptophan. 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine or caffeine (C8H10N4O2) is a stimulant that is near and dear to us all. It is the chemical that gives us a boost after consuming our morning coffee or drinking a soda. It excites our central nervous system which increases heart rate and contracts muscles. Caffeine affects dopamine and adenosine receptors in the brain which release pleasure producing chemicals. Theobromine (C7H8N4O2) is a bitter alkaloid derived from the cacao plant, which is the main component of chocolate. Theobromine and a similar effect to caffeine on the body, but it is not as strong; theobromine is essentially a mood-lifter (NBC LEARN). Tryptophan is an essential amino acid for humans, and since the body cannot manufacture it, it must be ingested. It plays an important role in the synthesis of

Chocolate being nicknamed the “food of the gods,” has always found its way through people 's hearts. Chocolate originated in Mexico, starting first with the Mayans. Used not only as a drink, it was also used in many medicinal purposes, such as relieving fatigue, treating burns, bowel dysfunction, and cuts and skin irritations. When Herman Cortes came and took some back to Spain, it was then that chocolate started to become popular. Nowadays, Americans eat as much as nine pounds of chocolate each person, every year! Although that much chocolate is consumed every year, chocolate has always had a bad label and is one of the many foods that are often avoided. But like I pointed out previously, it is beneficial to your body not the other way around. (McShea, 2008)

Everyone seems to love chocolate, and it is one of the most purchased treats on Valentine’s Day for friends, family, husbands and wives. When people are stressed, or feel like they need a comfort food, chocolate is one of the first things that comes to mind, and is reached to soothe a troubled emotional heart. In the past, chocolate has been considered to be a ‘sweet junk food’ that is high in sugar and calories with no nutritional value. But due to recent nutritional and scientific research people should be eating a bit of dark chocolate for the antioxidants and heart healthy benefits. Chocolate has recently been researched in the science world for its high levels of antioxidants,

But people don’t just buy random chocolates, they buy chocolates put into soft red heart-shaped cases. When we write cards on valentine’s day, some people wonder how the idea of writing cards on valentine’s day even got made up. Well, a woman named Esther Howland also called “The Mother of the American Valentine”, she was the first artist to sell handmade lace paper cards featuring messages of love to retailers. With over than 145 million cards bought in the USA and other countries, this also means that Valentine’s day is now one of the biggest revenue generators for greeting card factories. The fabulous idea of boxing chocolates in fancy heart shaped cases came from Richard Cadbury, the founder of Cadbury's cocoa and chocolate company. Jewelry, flowers, chocolates, cards are all really important because jewelry marks special times in your life that you want to remember, and also jewelry can be passed down generations, and it almost doesn't break. Flowers can help release stress and anxiety, they be more than that too, flowers can help with weddings and in funerals, flowers bring a sense of peace and beauty to the sad occasion. Chocolate is just made for the good taste, and cards are like a special memory that people took time to prepare and