Happy World Chocolate Day! – I bring you here lots of information on Chocolate!

Happy Chocolate Day! Chocolate was introduced to Europe on 7th July 1550 and since then Chocolate Day is being observed on 7th July every year, and over time it has become World Chocolate Day and is being celebrated in most countries of the world!

I present below some interesting information collected by me on Chocolate:

First, some Sweet Facts point-wise, about Chocolate and then on how to eat and enjoy Chocolate!

1) World Chocolate Day, sometimes referred to as International Chocolate Day, is an observance that occurs globally every year on 7th July. The celebration of the day obviously includes the consumption of Chocolate.

2) Some countries celebrate International Chocolate Day on different dates calling them by different names like National Chocolate Day and it is celebrated two times a year! That’s plenty of days to indulge.

3) Eating dark Chocolate every day reduces the risk of heart disease by one-third.

4) A lethal dosage of Chocolate for a human being is about 10 kg. So there is nothing to worry on this count.

5) Chocolate has an anti-bacterial effect on the mouth and protects against tooth decay. But unfortunately, doctors tell us the opposite.

6) The Swiss are the biggest consumers of Chocolate in the world eating just under 9 kg of chocolate annually. In contrast, the average American eats about 4.5 kg of chocolate each year. And in India, it is mostly children in small quantities, and elders eat very little occasionally, definitely not even on a weekly basis.

7) White Chocolate is not technically Chocolate as it contains no cocoa solids or cocoa liquor.

8) 45 kg of Chocolate is consumed in the U.S. every second!

How to Eat and Enjoy Chocolate:

Are you looking to take your love of Chocolate to the next level? Maybe you’re just curious about how you can enhance your interest in it. Boost your enjoyment of Chocolate by learning how to slow down and savour it.

1) Give yourself time to enjoy it. Don’t waste a good Chocolate bar by scarfing it down so quickly you don’t even really taste it. Take some time out of your day to sit down and mindfully enjoy each bite.

Sit down somewhere where you’re comfortable and won’t be interrupted. Curl up in an armchair with some nice music playing, or sit at a place looking out at your garden — whatever makes you feel cozy!

Some experts recommend not having any distractions whatsoever, including music so that you can completely dedicate your senses to tasting the Chocolate.

2) Have a clean palate. To totally experience, the Chocolate’s flavour, start with a clean palate that doesn’t contain any residual flavours from your past meals. If your mouth still tastes like your previous meal, cleanse your palate with water.

If you’re having a few different types of Chocolate, have a glass of water nearby so that you can sip it and cleanse your palate in between Chocolates. It’s helpful to wait a while between tasting different Chocolates so that the flavours don’t mix on your palate.

3) Take a few deep breaths and quiet your mind. When your mind is focused only on eating the Chocolate, you’ll notice things you’ve never noticed before, like the textures and variety of tastes in just one piece.

4) Pay attention to how the Chocolate looks. Once you’ve quieted your mind, turn your attention to the Chocolate’s appearance. Admire its glossy exterior, and any colours or decorations it may have on it.

5) Feel the Chocolate. Run your fingers gently over the Chocolate, paying attention to its texture. It may be smooth, chunky, or rough.

If the Chocolate feels cold, wait to eat it until it is at room temperature. The colder the Chocolate is, the more difficult it will be to taste all of its flavours.

6) Smell the Chocolate. Hold the Chocolate up to your nose and take a deep inhale while closing your eyes. Cup your other hand over the Chocolate as you do this so that you can really get a sense of how the Chocolate smells.

If you’re eating a Chocolate bar, now is the time to snap a piece off from it. This will release more of its Chocolaty smell.

7) Bite into the Chocolate. If it’s a truffle, bite the truffle in half. If it’s been kept at the right temperature, the truffle should snap upon being bitten.

You can use your teeth and tongue to break the Chocolate into small pieces and spread them across your tongue. This is more commonly done with truffles than Chocolate bars.

With a Chocolate bar, you may just want to hold it to the roof of your mouth and let it melt for up to 30 seconds before moving it around your mouth.

8) Move the Chocolate around your mouth. Let the Chocolate sit on your tongue, and then press it up to the roof of your mouth and experience the flavours as the Chocolate melts. Many Chocolates move through a variety of flavours as they melt.

As you move the Chocolate around your mouth, pay attention to how it tastes. It may be sweet, salty, bitter, acidic, or a combination.

For example, a mango chilli truffle melted in the middle of your tongue might start with a strong mango flavour, and then move to a tequila flavour, then chilli, with the chilli spice hitting the back of your throat as you swallow the Chocolate.

9) Use your nose. Inhale deeply through your nose as the Chocolate melts on your tongue. As you inhale, imagine you are making space between your nose and the roof of your mouth (your palate). As you do this, you may notice different flavours or at least stronger ones.

Inhaling in this way is called “aerating the palate” and helps stimulate your sense of smell at the back of your throat.

10) Reflect. Before taking the next bite, give yourself a moment to feel the Chocolate’s effect on your body. Do you feel a little mood boost? A bit of an increased Heart rate? Maybe you’re smiling because it tastes so nice!

Now that you’ve expanded your Chocolate knowledge, it’s time to indulge!

If you are looking for an excuse to eat Chocolate look no further because today is World Chocolate Day!

Having written this article on Chocolate!

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