I am talking about, sweet, silky, sensuously soft, teasingly bitter, Chocolates! The sweetheart of all food. 7th of July is dedicated in the honor of this superstar food item globally, as the International Chocolate Day. There are several countries having their individual National Chocolate Days! It requires no statistics to validate the status of chocolates in the world market.
A cup of dark, hot chocolate with mushy marshmallows was always the highlight of my Christmas holidays in Canada. I still follow the tradition, while setting up the Christmas Tree at my home every year. Personally, I love the darker shades of chocolates. There is something mysteriously impish about it and has the power to provoke my possessiveness to the ultimate level. I remember getting into a very nasty squabble with my sister over a box of chocolate that too, in my late teens! I had claimed complete dominance over the entire box, as it was parcelled in my name. The outcome was pretty grave; I had to share the contents of the box not only with her but with the fleet of my cousins, who had intervened to mitigate the situation.
Like most of you, chocolates have been, the trump card when it came to apologies, the initiation of friendship, the root cause of many of my juvenile tiffs, and the ideal gift for all occasions. As a child, the ‘5 Star’ or a bar of Cadbury’s Milk Chocolate was the staple treat from visiting uncles and aunts. On birthdays, no gift could surpass a box of chocolates, which required no compromise of sharing, especially with my younger sibling.
Rich History
The use of drinking chocolates is traced back as early as 1400 B.C. by the Mayans. Christopher Columbus was bowled over by the taste of chocolate and brought it to Spain and the entire European Continent was blown over by the bitter-sweet taste of the cocoa beverage. It was only in 1847, that the solidified version of chocolate was dished out by the confectioners of the Fry and Sons Shop in Great Britain.
The flavonoid-rich cocoa beans are loaded with antioxidants and are great for heart and brain health. Chocolates are also known to fight inflammation, regulate hormones, improve digestion. The high magnesium content in cocoa is great for kidney function. However, too much can trigger migraines, cause tooth decay and weight gain!
For centuries, chocolates have been revered as one of the most potent nutriments of love. Chocolate was used as an Aphrodisiac in many ancient cultures. The Aztecs used it as a sacred offering to their goddess of fertility and as a wedding drink. According to legends, Aztec emperor Montezuma had many wives and he drank fifty cups of “xocoatl” (a drink made of cocoa beans) a day! It gave him the vitality to maintain a happy marital life!
The Spirit of Romance
Richard Cadbury’s commercial acumen in 1861, unified chocolates and romance together forever. The heart-shaped Cadbury signature-box became the quintessential gift of love. Since the Victorian era, chocolates are facilitating in wooing the hearts of millions of lovers on Valentine’s Day. This precious currency of the Mayans is available in exotic blends with matching price-tags. Recently ITC’s, The Fabelle Trinity Truffles Extraordinaire, priced at approximately, 4.3 lakhs/kg, broke the record to top the list of the most expensive chocolate bar in the Guinness World Records.
Thanks to the extensive commercialization of chocolates, there are several brands available in the market one can choose, without a dent in the wallet. So, what are you waiting for? You are all set for the 14th of February! Gift a box of chocolate for that special someone in your life, share one with your family and friends or simply buy one, just for yourself and allow the tantalizing taste of chocolate to captivate you in intoxicating romance this Valentine’s Day.
