Chocolate is a delightful confectionary consumed and enjoyed by many people. Some indulge in it as a treat on any given day, or share it on special occasions such as Easter, Christmas, anniversaries and birthdays [7]. The history of chocolate dates back to the Mayan and Aztec (1500BC [7]) civilisations in Central America. These ancient cultures referred to chocolate as “food of the gods”. They invented a spicy drink made from roasted cocoa beans, called “chocolatl” [13]. This spicy drink was only consumed during betrothal and marriage ceremonies. This was the first link between chocolate and romance! The Spaniards were introduced to this beverage during the 1500’s and took is back home, but kept the production it a secret for nearly 100 years. Spain’s monopoly on chocolate production declined, and by the 16th century this delectable drink was very popular amongst the wealthy in France. It was a very expensive drink, affordable to only the very rich [13]. The first of many “chocolate houses”, or hot chocolate shops, opened in London. By the mid-1700’s these shops were seen all over England. Various European countries were producing chocolate confections by the 1800’s. Chocolate became affordable to many now because production costs decreased as the cocoa beans were being grinded using steam-engine mechanized machines [13]. This delicacy is now enjoyed around the world, bringing the consumption of chocolate beans to more than 3 million tons annually [13]. Chocolate is made from cocoa beans which grow on the cacao tree: o The botanical name for this tropical rainforest plant is Theobroma Cacao [7]. Theobroma Cacao is Greek for “Food of the gods” [15]. o Although the tree is native to Latin America, it is now cultivate... ... middle of paper ... ...bacteria to damage teeth and gums [12]. Osteoporosis is another concern resulting from a high sugar intake because calcium is leached from the bones when sugar is metabolised [12]. Certain nutrients such as calcium, iron, vitamin A and vitamin C are needed to digest sugar, and therefore too much sugar depletes these nutrients from the body [12]. This depletion results in anaemia and a lower immune system [12]. In conclusion, consuming chocolate can be beneficial on the body from a health perspective provided that it forms part of a balanced diet and is consumed in moderation. Of the three types of chocolate, dark chocolate is the most beneficial due to its high cocoa content, as the properties of cocoa are of great benefit to the body, and the lower sugar content. White chocolate is the least beneficial due to its absence of cocoa and the high sugar content.
While Europe and the United States account for most chocolate consumption, the confection is growing in popularity in Asia and market forecasts are optimistic about the prospects in China and India (Nieburg, 2013, para 9). According to the CNN Freedom Project, the chocolate industry rakes in $83 billion a year, surpassing the Gross Domestic Product of over a hundred nations (“Who consumes the most chocolate,” 2012, para 3). If chocolate continues grow popular in Asia, it stands to become even more lucrative.
Before Milton Hershey had a world wide known chocolate business, he had a small, not so well known caramel business. Milton Hershey began his chocolate making business in 1893, when his father and him traveled to Chicago to attend a big job fair (Tarshis 14), but it wasn’t until 1900 when Hershey succeed in making the first milk chocolate candy bar (The Hershey Company). Hershey attended an exhibit hall of new and amazing inventions around the world at the fair in Chicago. As Hershey walked into the exhibit hall, he was struck by a delectable smell (Tarshis 14). “Hershey was already a leading candy maker. He had created the largest caramel factory in the country, but he became convinced that the future of his business would be chocolate. At the fair in Chicago, Hershey Bought chocolate-making equipment. He had it shipped back to his caramel factory in Pennsylvania. Then he hired two chocolate makers. Soon the company was churning out chocolate candies in more than 100 shapes” (Tarshis 15).
The videos provided for this subject builds a great understanding on what happens behind the scenes and how the production cycle of chocolates turns deadly for few. The chocolate industry is being accused having legit involvement in human trafficking. The dark side of chocolate is all about big industries getting their coco from South America and Africa industries. However, it is an indirect involvement of Hersheys and all other gigantic brands in trafficking (Child Slavery and the Chocolate Factory, 2007).
Chocolate or cacao was first discovered by the Europeans as a New World plant, as the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. In Latin, Theobroma literally means: “food of the Gods” (Bugbee, Cacao and Chocolate: A Short History of Their Production and Use). Originally found and cultivated in Mexico, Central America and Northern South America, its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC. The majority of the Mesoamerican people made chocolate beverages, including the Aztecs, who made it into a beverage known as xocolātl, a Nahuatl word meaning “bitter water” (Grivetti; Howard-Yana, Chocolate: History, Culture, and Heritage). It was also a beverage in Mayan tradition that served a function as a ceremonial item. The cacao plant is g...
Chocolate is a food in the form of a paste or solid block made from roasted and ground cacao seeds. As suspected, its name is derived
University of North Carolina, 2010. Web. 16 Oct. 2013. <http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/1866> Coe, Sophie D., and Michael D. Coe. The True History of Chocolate.
According to the article, Too Much Can Make Us Sick (http://www.sugarscience.org/too-much-can-make-us-sick/), “Heart disease. Diabetes. These chronic conditions are among the leading causes of death worldwide. Increasingly, scientists are focusing on a common set of underlying metabolic issues that raise people's risk for chronic disease. It turns out that the long-term overconsumption of added sugars is linked to many of these dysfunctions.” This means that people living today, have a lot more trouble with diseases because of our unhealthy sugar intake compared to the
The market can be further divided according to gender because both men and women have different tastes (chocolate shapes, packaging, and type of liquor). It is known that women are already consuming chocolate. In fact, the numbers of women that consume chocolate far outnumber the numbers of men that consume chocolate. It follows that there is a ready market for the commodity in question. Nonetheless, the reality that introducing alcohol to make liquor-filled chocolates increases the market.
Americans consume chocolate every day, we love it. It gives us a little morsel of happiness when we consume it. But what effects does it have on others when we consume it? Do other Americans know what went into making that fun size Snickers Bar? Most people don’t, in Africa children are kidnapped and smuggled across the continent to work as slaves on coca plantations. The children smuggled for slave work are as young as seven years old. Daily hundreds of children are trafficked to the Ivory Coast, which is a renowned area where most chocolate plantations are. It is sickening that children are taken away from their home to work on farms as slaves. Not living a fun and educated childhood, they are worked in unsafe and unethical environments.
(Reveal topic) You are never too old to enjoy chocolate. Whether you are trick or treating to just stopping by the store for a little snack, chocolate is there. Through a bunch of long processes, chocolate makes it from the cocoa bean to the store.
The 58 million pounds of chocolate eaten on chocolate the drenched holiday of Valentines Day is likely made from cocoa beans from West Africa. The Ivory Coast, also known as Cote D'ivoire in Africa is the source of about 35 percent of the world’s cocoa production. These cocoa beans were likely harvested by unpaid child workers that are being held captive on plantations as slaves. Chocolate companies use these cocoa plantations as their cocoa source for their chocolate products. And since the companies want to maximize their profit, they push plantation owners to lower prices, causing plantations to cut price any way possible (Philpott).
From Dairy Queen’s Chocolate Extreme Blizzards to a Hershey’s bar, I love chocolate of all kinds mixed with all assorted goods. I believe that everyone knows that chocolate is bad for humans to consume in large/multiple quantities. But I also heard of people having “chocolate addictions”. I realize that most people are exaggerating when they say they are “addicted” to chocolate, but it lead me to wonder if it is possible to really be addicted to chocolate and if it is something that could happen to anyone.
There is nothing any better than a good piece of chocolate. Its rich, its creamy, its smooth, and it makes us feel so-o-o-o good for a few moments of course, that is; until the guilt of the calories kick in. Chocolate happens to be one of my favorite sweets. The wonderful creamy milk chocolate, bittersweet chocolate, white chocolate, or even my personal favorite a silky dark chocolate, the choices are hard. I sat down this weekend to really think about, and compare the differences. I compared my two favorite types of chocolate, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate. Milk chocolate is usually paired with nuggets, nuts, creams or caramels, but the dark chocolate is best with a wine such as a Muscat Canelli. Either makes a great desert, treat, or snack for anyone.
In ancient history, long before dark chocolate even became a popular dessert, it was most valued for it’s ability to improve a person’s health. There have also been countless studies that show the effects of consuming dark chocolate on a regular basis for several weeks. Dark chocolate has been recognized as a valuable source of antioxidant polyphenol compounds that have the effects to help with many diseases including coronary artery disease (Haber, Stacy L., and Karen Gallus). This food is not an empty calorie food meanwhile, like many other foods it contains lots proteins and B vitamins. It also includes many vital minerals such as iron, magnesium and copper (Rinzler, Carol Ann). Consuming one ounce of dark chocolate a day can help with high
What do you know about the cocoa? Do you think you know about the Cocoa production that is the regions of Latin America, West Africa, and Indonesia? Will do you know that the cocoa was considered bean of gold on beginning of the 20th century, and the cocoa beans it have a high demand on consumer item all over the world, which it used in many products? The cocoa production may affect environmental, economic, and political-social.