Chocolate is the world’s most popular flavor of ice cream. Phenylethylamine, a mood-elevating chemical that is also found in lovebirds’ brains, can be found in chocolate.
These facts are not what you would expect to find when you think about chocolate. However, if you are willing to read on for more interesting facts about this delicious treat then please do!
For example, did you know that chocolate contains caffeine and has been used as an aphrodisiac since the Aztecs first invented it 2000 years ago? Did you know that cocoa beans have 7 times more antioxidants than red wine or green tea? Or that cacao trees grow best in humid rainforests at elevations between 5500 and 7500 feet?
If you are interested in learning more facts about chocolate then keep reading!
Types of Chocolate
There are many different types of chocolate, from dark to milk to white. Each type has its own unique flavor and texture. Here are some of the most popular types of chocolate:
– Dark chocolate: This type is made with a high percentage of cocoa solids, and has a rich, intense flavor. It is usually bittersweet or semisweet.
– Milk chocolate: This type is made with milk powder, cocoa butter, and sugar. It has a smooth, creamy texture and a mild flavor.
– White chocolate: This type is made with cocoa butter, sugar, and milk powder. It has a light, creamy texture and a sweet flavor.
17 Facts About Chocolate
Chocolate has been around for over 2000 years. The first people to eat it were the Aztecs, who believed that cocoa beans had magical powers. They drank a bitter beverage made from dried cocoa pods called “xocolatl” which the Aztecs believed gave them the power to “see into the future”. The Aztecs were so obsessed with cocoa beans that they even used them as money!
Today, chocolate is one of the most popular sweets in the world. Over 300 million tons of chocolate are produced worldwide each year! However, it takes almost 400 cocoa beans to produce one pound of chocolate.
- The cacao tree originated in South America, where it was used by ancient people to make a hot drink.
- The Aztecs believed that the god Quetzalcoatl gave them chocolate to help establish their civilization.
- More than 70% of Americans eat chocolate every day.
- Chocolate must have at least 35% cocoa solids to be considered chocolate, whereas cocoa powder only needs 10%. This means that cocoa powder is considered chocolate in the US, but not in most other countries.
- Anthropologists have found evidence that cocoa beans were used as currency by the Olmecs and Maya around 1100 BC.
- The FDA does not allow more than 0.3% trans fat per serving in any food product; however, many food manufacturers still add it to their products because it extends shelf life and increases “bloom,” or the speed at which the chocolate hardens when placed in cold temperatures.
- Most of the cocoa powder used today comes from Africa, but most of the chocolate bars come from Europe and North America. This is due to Europeans’ inability to grow cacao trees successfully on their continent.
- A single Hershey’s milk chocolate bar contains 17 insect parts, 11 milligrams of rat excrement, and traces of nuts or other known allergens.
- The US army once tried to use chocolate as an incendiary bomb during World War II! Luckily for us, it was never implemented.
- Chocolate is used as a coloring agent in some red velvet cakes because it reacts with baking soda to form carbon dioxide gas, which makes the cake rise higher.
- When you think of cocoa, you probably imagine a dry and dusty land in Africa that is very far away. However, the plants that produce chocolate grow in pretty much the opposite environment: humid and warm with lots of rainfall. This means that chocolate thrives best in areas such as South America and Indonesia.
- Some American companies use child labor to harvest cocoa beans because children can be paid less than adults, yet they still perform well under pressure; however, several countries have taken measures to stop this from happening. For example, farmers in Ghana were required by law to send their children to school instead of using them for labor like it was common practice before 2010.
- The word “chocolate” comes from chocolatl (meaning “warm liquid”), which is how the Mayan people described their treat.
- Few facts about chocolate are known for certain; however, one undisputed fact is that chocolate makes us happy! It contains phenylethylamine (PEA), a mood-elevating chemical that also exists in lovebirds’ brains. PEA levels increase when you are falling in love or just after you have fallen in love, but they come down quickly if your relationship doesn’t work out. This means that eating chocolate can help us stay in love because it makes us feel good!
- Dark chocolate may be healthier than milk chocolate or white chocolate because of its high cocoa content and antioxidants, which promote cardiovascular health by preventing clots from forming inside blood vessels.
- In the early 1900s, Hershey’s chocolate bars were sold wrapped in foil to keep them from melting. Today, this practice continues because it enhances the taste of the chocolate by keeping it from becoming too dry and crispy.
- The average American eats a whopping 28 pounds of chocolate each year!
And Now You Know
When it comes to facts about chocolate, there are so many interesting facts that you may not have known. And who knows what other discoveries will be made about everyone’s favorite sweet?
Unfortunately, not everyone can enjoy chocolate due to allergies or health issues. However, for those who can eat it then they are in for a delicious treat! Share our facts about chocolate with your friends and family members today!
