I wonder if you know ALL about chocolate.
It was discovered 2,000 years ago in the tropical rain forests of the Americas.
The first people to have eaten chocolate were the Classic Period Maya (250-900 AD) they mixed ground cacua seeds with seasoning’s to make a bitter spicy drink which was said to be good for your health.
The cocoa pod was used in religious rituals, marriage ceremonies and was said to be a food of the gods, to have wisdom, and aphrodisiac qualities. They say that Casanova, made a habit of drinking chocolate before his romantic escapades !!!!!!!!!
The first machine made chocolate was produced in Barcelona in 1780 and the first ever chocolate bar was made by the British chocolate maker Fry & Sons in the early 1800’s.
By 1868, the first Valentines Day chocolate was made by Richard Cadbury.
Studies have shown that dark chocolate is good for your heart, it can reduce blood pressure and lower cholesterol. Only a small bar per day though :):)
Most interesting history…:yes: Of course, the British are more attracted to ‘Milk Chocolate’….;)x
LikeLike
I wonder why? mmm yum, yum, far more creamy :))
LikeLike
‘Creamy’…..:yes: Chocolate? :roll:;)x
LikeLike
I’ve made a decision Bushka, I’ve given up MILK chocolate for lent, not DARK chocolate though :)):):)
LikeLike
NOW….THAT is a very wise decision………Much healthier, too. You are more likely to ‘stay on proper chocolate’…..:lalala: ;)xxx
LikeLike
lol, I won’t tell you what dark chocolate I’ve had this evening though, that’s my secret :)):))
LikeLike
Because dark chocolate is healthy!
LikeLike
Exactly Grace, thanks for passing through :):)
LikeLike
They had an advert on TV about chocolate and the mayans.
LikeLike
Really, we haven’t had it in the UK, very interesting :):)
LikeLike
Normal Brits like milk chocolate, however I’m not normal! I love dark chocolate, especially Jamaican Rum by Cadburys, sadly you can’t get it here in NY :(…and as far as the words ‘small bar a day’ goes depends on your definition of ‘small’!
LikeLike
Yes, we do (I do) it’s the creaminess of it I guess. I guess my definition of ‘small’ is a bit bigger than tiny, lol :))
LikeLike
Just reading that makes me not only want some, but particularly a bar of frys orange – they used to do a mixed one if I remember rightly but not seen that for years :no:
LikeLike
Oh sorry bda, I had to write it AFTER I’d eaten mine so I know what you mean. Feel full to the brim tonight after cooking pancakes for Dad and indulging in toooooo much chocolate :)):))
LikeLike
I really want chocolate right now but am making do with a cuppa instead 😦 Dieting is just sooooo boring x
LikeLike
Dieting is definitely boring – you are obviously like me with your chocolate bda, in that once you start you can stop until its all gone!!! My daughter was saying her partner came home a couple of nights ago and saw a LARGE empty chocolate wrapper on the side and said, ‘Oh dear, what’s up love’, her answer was ‘I can’t seem to lose any weight so I thought I’d eat the lot’, now that’s a girl after my own heart, lol :))
LikeLike
Mine too lol
LikeLike
Interesting, Barbara – thanks for the info – and hand me that chocolate bar 😉
LikeLike
Oops, sorry gilly, just finished the last piece :)):)
LikeLike
Wot 8| oh no! oh well, seeing as how it’s you 😉
LikeLike
Oh, thank you soooooo much :)):))
LikeLike
Shucks… I’ve given up chocolate for Lent 😦
However I am sure I’ll make up for the temporary deprivation at some later date!!! :))
Interesting post Barmac!
LikeLike
My daughter said she is also giving up chocolate for lent, I haven’t the will power, aren’t I hopeless? 🙂
LikeLike
I did know about the Mayans but I did NOT know about the first machine made chocolate in Barcelona. That should come in handy on Trivia Night at my local pub.
Thank goodness I’m Jewish and don’t have to give up chocolate for lent. That would be a deal-breaker, I’m afraid.
Remember: Save the earth! (We’re the only planet with chocolate.)
Warmest aloha,
Kay in Honolulu, Hawaii
LikeLike
Wow Kay from Honolulu, thanks for passing through and leaving your comment. This would indeed ebe a great trivia night question.
I’m trying to stop chocolate for lent, milk that is not dark of course :)):):)
LikeLike
Anywhere we’re talking about chocolate … you’ll find ME!
There aren’t too many chocolatiers who make really good milk chocolate, but I have found a couple. But for the most part … it’s dark all the way for my tastes. And to think it’s actually good for me, well … that’s a bonus!
LikeLike
Glad you could join us Doreen, we all love chocolate (especially me) on here. 🙂
LikeLike