Tony Zentgraf
Happy World Chocolate Day!
There isn’t a corner of yearly life that doesn’t have some sort of chocolate influence. From Valentines Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Birthdays, to Summer Ice Cream all the way through the calendar to Christmas, chocolate is everywhere.
Funny thing is, around the world there is more than one chocolate day. Today, July 7th, is World Chocolate day. Started in 2009, it is thought that is was created to celebrate chocolate being introduced to Europe in the 1500s.
In the U.S. National Chocolate Day is October 28th. There is an International Chocolate Day that is on September 13th, coincidently Milton S. Hershey’s birthday.
In Ghana, the second largest producer of cocoa, celebrates on February 14th, Africa grows the majority of Cacao Trees in the world.
But it doesn’t stop there, there are days for white chocolate, milk chocolate and national cocoa day. The world loves it’s chocolate.
Ok, so the World Loves Chocolate but How Did We Get Here?
It has been estimated that there have been cacao trees on Earth for 10,000 years, give or take. As with many foods, the origin of cocoa and chocolate trace back to Southern Mexico to Northern South America. The Cacao Tree began being grown for food purposes back during the time when Mayans inhabited Central America. The Mayan word xocolatl was probably the origin of chocolate in the English language.
From the Aztecs to the Mayans
Some 700 years later chocolate migrated through trade routes to South America where the Aztecs began making chocolate drinks that included spices. The cacao had not had the introduction of any other ingredients, thus making what they drank or ate most likely 100% cacao.
During the 1500s, European explorers were introduced to the Cacao tree and the Aztecs chocolate drinks. When it was brought back to Europe, it was introduced to Spain but they did not like the bitterness of the cacao. It was then that sugar began to be added to the cacao to make a more palletable chocolate.
Chocolate Spreads Across Europe
As chocolate spread across Europe, and many countries developed their own chocolate blends to produce some of the best chocolate in the world. Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and Italy to name a few have perfected the art of chocolate making.
In the 1600s, England came on the scene with chocolate and opened chocolate houses that served chocolate drinks. Mainland Europe had chocolate houses several years ahead of England. Chocolate began to make its way over to America on ships bringing supplies from Europe. Baker’s Chocolate company was created in 1765 making it the oldest chocolate company in the U.S. to this day.
Production Turns a Profit
1800s show major progress with chocolate production. Fry’s Chocolate in England creates a chocolate bar and Nestle in Switzerland introduces milk chocolate. You can say from this point it takes off.
In the late 1800s large scale chocolate production began. Cadbury Chocolate company gave a box to Queen Victoria and from there they began production and selling to the public.
Over in the U.S., Milton Hershey began producing chocolate that was affordable to the masses. Prior to this chocolate worldwide was mainly consumed by the wealthy.
There have been leaps and bounds in the making of chocolate since the 1900s, companies like Valhrona, a high end chocolate company produces single origin chocolate as well as many specialty chocolates such as their fruit infused, which are amazing.
Whether you like the graininess of a stone ground Mexican chocolate, such as Taza Chocolates who produce unrefined chocolates infused with flavors such as cinnamon, coffee, sea salt or chile. Or the refined fine chocolates of European countries, to California’s famous See’s Candies, to the milk chocolate that Hershey made affordable, there is some chocolate somewhere out there in the world that will satisfy your cravings.
Baking with chocolate, how can we forget……
Yes there are chocolate delicacies like fine truffles and delicately handmade treats to chocolate bars but there are also pastries, cakes, donuts and the list can go on and on. Below are some links to chocolate desserts that you can make so you can tame the cravings for chocolate when the mood hits.
Get some premium Vhalrona Chocolate to spoil yourself!
Once again, Happy World Chocolate Day. I guess there will be a revisit on the next Chocolate Holiday.
