Guide - It is widely believed that chocolate consumption releases a chemical into your body very similar to what is produced when you are in love.

When he got lost looking for a shortcut to India in the late 1400s, Christopher Columbus found the delicious treat known as chocolate in the New World. It is commonly believed that the ancient Aztecs were to have drunk chocolate a long time before anyone else in the world even knew of its existence. In its original formulation, it was a very bitter concoction created from the roasted seeds of cocoa and mixed with spices. In the Americas it was considered to be a sacred drink that was enjoyed by the Aztecs but only the very elite of their society could afford it. The Aztecs were not ignorant of the value of the cocoa bean and began using it as part of their monetary system and to buy their gold.

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The treat that got its start in the New World is the same that would become known as Belgian chocolate, which is the original recipe that was kept secret by the Spanish Aristocrats. The nobility couldn’t keep the success of the drink from spreading to other European countries however, and it became widespread. The European nobles experimented with the recipe and were the first to add sugar to it, which made it much more drinkable then the previously bitter drink originated by the Aztecs. Medical practitioners even professed that it cured certain diseases because it held such a high and sacred value. When chocolate arrived in Belgium it was considered to be a magnificent gift, due to all of the history that came with it and the legends of its medicinal effect that it was told to have. The Belgian confectionary created the praline filling for the chocolate in 1912, which was packaged to give out as special gifts to others. The delicacy soon became known as Belgian chocolate because of the unique filling the Belgians created in rich milk chocolate.

Guide - Choose organic chocolates. Certified organic chocolate ensures there are no harmful pesticide residues.

To make the special chocolate it is first taken from large pods that come from the cocoa tree, and then the cocoa seeds or beans are taken from the pods. The beans are then sun dried and delivered to the chocolate makers. Once the Belgians get the beans they roast them and crush them into the cocoa powder that they make the Belgian chocolate with. They then add the cocoa butter that comes from the beans and add that to the powder, sugar, and the milk powder.

The Belgian chocolate makers are very choosy with the cocoa powder that they allow for use in the making of Belgian chocolate and will only allow the finest quality to be used. They use the same discretion when it comes to picking the ingredients they use to make their chocolate filling that is known as praline. They make this product by hand so that they can be sure to bring out only the finest possible chocolate. The pride in their product also leads them to choose the cocoa beans by hand as well so that only the best possible source product is sued in the making of Belgian Chocolate.

Guide - Several medical studies show that eating chocolate in moderation can actually prolong your life by reducing risk of blood clots and fighting bad cholestorol.

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Not too long ago I was eating at Bruno’s in San Francisco with a couple of pals. For dessert we ordered whoopie pies. None of us really knew what a whoopie pie was, but the name sounded too fun to pass up. “I’m pretty sure it’s like a moon pie and it’s… San Francisco - West Coast of the United States - West Coast - Pies and Pastry - United States

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Guide - When it comes to chewing chocolate, a person must be very careful. Each bite of chocolate must be chewed no less than 12 times out of respect for the cacao seed that sacrificed itself for your toothsome treat.

How many of us have not eaten a chocolate bar? I am sure the count isn’t many, unless you are allergic to the delicious confectionary. From the simple milk chocolate bar to the elaborate bars that include caramel, marshmallows, nuts, or coconut there probably isn’t a more popular type of chocolate in the world.

From its beginning in the 1800s it quickly became a much desired product and by the early 1900s was a huge commercial success that has done nothing but increase since its introduction. Many of the bars that are sold on the market today are still the exact recipe of those from the beginning and have also remained affordable. Until the late 1940s you could buy chocolate bars for a few pennies, even though they are more than that now they are worth it!

Guide - Tassimo from Braun is also one of the better-known appliances available. In addition to many kinds of coffee, this machine can make excellent Suchard Hot Chocolate drink.

Even though there are thousands of different types of chocolate bars being marketed now the number of actual chocolate making companies is much smaller. The industry is dominated by a handful of giants in the chocolate business that will go out and buy smaller companies and absorb that company’s products into their mix. The chocolate bar is one of the most widespread forms of chocolate and commonly found even in vending machines. One of the biggest introductions lately has been the addition of nutritional value by adding protein and additional vitamins to the delicious confection.

Guide - Children are more likely to prefer chocolate when they reach 10-11 years old than when they are younger.

Of course there is no way that one can talk about chocolate bars without covering Hershey’s chocolate bars. These delicious and popular milk chocolate bars are created in a wide variety of flavors that all get their origin from the classic Hershey’s chocolate bar made by the founder, Milton Hershey in 1900. The way the bars are made today hasn’t changed much; they still select the most high quality cocoa beans and then roast them. Afterwards the process consists of winnowing, conching, tempering, and then molding and packaging for shipping.

The vast majority of chocolate makers that produce chocolate bars use the same exact recipe for their products. What makes them different in taste and quality is the cocoa beans they select, the taste of chocolate can vary greatly depending upon the different plant varieties and even from where in the world they come. One of the most popular chocolate makers, Nestle, actually has three bars hailing from three different countries. Like other manufacturers, the makers of chocolate may also produce their bars in one country and then have them packaged in another.

There are some ingredients that are absolutely crucial to create all chocolate bars including cocoa paste, cocoa butter and sugar. Some of the optional ingredients are lecithin and vanilla. White chocolate contains more of the cocoa butter. Have fun and experiment with different brands and varieties to find the one you prefer the most.

Guide - Choose chocolates with the least amount of refined white sugar or other sweetener. Dark ‘bittersweet’ chocolates with a high percentage of cocoa solids (usually the label will state the exact percentage) have less sugar than semisweet or milk chocolate and also have the greatest health benefits.

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