Every year on July 7th, it gives chocolate lovers around the world the opportunity to indulge in their favorite treat guilt-free. The day is also dedicated to all kinds of treats made from chocolate, including chocolate milk, hot chocolate, chocolate candies, chocolate cake, brownies or anything covered in chocolate, writes BGNES.
Origin and History
Chocolate is obtained from the seeds of the tropical tree Theobroma cacao. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia and grows in Mexico, Central America and North/South America. The earliest known records of the use of cocoa beans are from around 1100 BC.
Because the seeds of the cacao tree have a very strong, bitter taste, they must be fermented to develop their flavor. After fermentation, processors dry, clean and roast the beans. After roasting, the husk is removed to obtain cocoa beans. The cocoa beans are then ground and cocoa mass is obtained, which is pure chocolate in a coarse form. Cocoa mass is usually liquefied through a process that produces chocolate liquor. During this process, the chocolate liquid is separated into two components: cocoa solids and cocoa butter.
Benefits
Most people love chocolate. In fact, nine out of ten people love chocolate. About 1 billion people eat chocolate every day. Apart from being so delicious, chocolate also has some health benefits. Chocolate increases serotonin and dopamine levels, which help improve mood. Dark chocolate can also be especially good for you. Dark chocolate is a powerful source of antioxidants, and it also helps improve blood circulation, lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.