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FEBRUARY 2013 -
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their new obsession’s alleged mythical
powers. At one point in time, chocolate
was believed to be so potent that nuns
were forbidden from eating it and French
doctors used it to treat “broken hearts.”
By the 1800s, the Cadbury Brothers set
up shop in England and began pack-
aging candies to sell to a mainstream
audience. In 1861, in a genius-marketing
move, Richard Cadbury created the first
ever heart-shaped box for Valentine’s
Day, spurring the commercialization of the
holiday.
Today a box of luxurious quality choco-
late says a thousand “thank you”, “good
luck”, or “I love you”. Chocolate can be
given as a way of saying “congratula-
tions”, “I am sorry” or “get well
soon”. On Valentine’s Day,
chocolate clearly says “I
LOVE YOU!” Chocolate
is more than food,
it not only fills your
belly but also makes
you feel soooo good.
Elaine Sherman wrote
“Chocolate is heavenly,
mellow, sensual, deep, dark,
sumptuous, gratifying, potent, dense,
creamy, seductive, suggestive, rich,
excessive, silky, smooth, luxurious, and
celestial. Chocolate is downfall, happi-
ness, pleasure, love, ecstasy, fantasy ...
chocolate makes us wicked, guilty, sinful,
healthy, chic, happy.” What more could
you want to say to your lover on Valen-
tines Day? Even the scientific name for
the tree from which chocolate is derived,
Theobroma cacao, translated from Greek,
means “food of the gods”.
Why does chocolate evoke so many feel-
ings and emotions for us? Chocolate has
long been associated with passion, ro-
mance and love. This association may go
all the way back to the Aztecs. They be-
lieved chocolate was a source of spiritual
wisdom, incredible energy and elevated
sexual power. Chocolate was widely
used as a nuptial aid and was widely
served at wedding ceremonies. The
Aztecs did not know chocolate as we do
today; they consumed the cocoa as a
drink. Reports indicate that the Emperor
Montezuma consumed large quantities of
the drink every day and always fortified
himself with a cup before entertaining his
harem. The explorer Cortes reported to
Carlos I of Spain that chocolate is “... the
divine drink which builds up resistance
and fights fatigue. A cup of this precious
drink enables a man to walk for a whole
day without food.” From the earliest times,
choc-
olate
was
considered
a substance
of power and a
source of vitality.
Chocolate has been a subject of
study since the first shipment from Verac-
ruz arrived in Spain in 1585. But mod-
ern science has made some interesting
findings that may help explain our lust for
quality chocolate. Chocolate contains
organic substances known as alkaloids.
The most important of these substances is
theobromine, which works as a stimulant
to the kidneys. Stimulants in chocolate
also affect the central nervous system,
with effects similar to caffeine, which is
also present in chocolate. A chocolate
bar may contain as much as 200 mg
of theobromine but only about 25 mg
of caffeine. Another important substance
found in chocolate is phenylethylamine,
which is part of a group of chemicals
known as endorphins. Endorphins have
an effect similar to amphetamine and are
found naturally in the human body. When
endorphins are released into the blood-
stream, the mood is lifted and feelings of
positive energy are reached. The sensa-
tion known as “runners high” is caused by
endorphins released during exercise. Phe-
nylethylamine levels in the brain have also
been linked to “falling in love”. One more
chemical found in chocolate is serotonin.
Serotonin is known for its calming proper-
ties. The presence of these chemicals may
explain the multitude of feelings chocolate
evokes.
Debra Waterhouse, author of Why
Women Need Chocolate, conducted
a survey and found: 97% of women
reported cravings, 68% of which are for
chocolate, 50% would choose chocolate
over sex, and 22% were more likely than
men to choose chocolate as a mood
elevator. These findings could easily be
interpreted as a result of how chocolate
makes us feel.
Critics would say that the benefits of
eating chocolate are small when com-
pared to the sugar and fat contained in a
chocolate bar. The best chocolate, dark
chocolate with high cacao butter content
has no added fat, as well as a high
percentage of cacao solids and corre-
spondingly less sugar. Although chocolate
will never be considered a health food
based on its nutritional value, it is still
good for you! Good for your heart and
soul-anything that helps relieve stress and
makes you feel so good must be.
Receiving a nicely wrapped box of
chocolates causes a sense of anticipation.
The pleasure of unwrapping the box, the
sensual smell, lifting the soft seductive pa-
pers, the look of the smooth dark choco-
lates. When it finally passes your lips and
starts to instantly melt filling your mouth
with exquisite pleasure. The taste and
smell flood your senses with overwhelm-
ing ecstasy. Eating it slowly, taking time
to enjoy and savor every bit. What better
way to start off an evening of love?
olate for Valentine’s Day?
The Hi s t o ry o f Choco l a t e