You are never late with Choco-Late

The sweet and soothing chocolate is everyone’s favourite not only on Valentine’s Day but throughout the year. Chocolate, which is used in all types of desserts like cakes, candies, puddings et al., is also believed to be good for health. The cocoa beans in the chocolate contain dopamine, phenylethylamine, caffeine, and anandamide, which is considered to be a happy neurotransmitter in the brain. Anandamide, called the bliss molecule, makes you feel happy and blessed. No matter this much loved sweet has become popular globally and the World Chocolate Day is celebrated on 7th July every year. Ashok Malkani examines various aspects of the beloved sweet, chocolate: Its usage in desserts, the different types of chocolates, its health benefits, etc.

-  Ashok Malkani

It is said that life is full of questions. Chocolate is the answer to all of them! Portuguese poet, writer and literary critic, Fernando Pessoa, has written, “Look, there’s no metaphysics on earth like chocolates.” Indeed chocolate is one of the most loved objects of young and old all across the globe. No wonder it has a day of its own: World Chocolate Day, celebrated on July 7. This day, also known as International Chocolate Day, is a global celebration where people gorge and indulge into their favourite chocolate. Apart from eating, people also gift their loved ones their favourite chocolates.

Chocolates have been loved by people since centuries ago. World Chocolate Day is believed to be celebrated since 1550, when it was introduced in Europe. Before that, chocolate was available only in specific countries and regions including Mexico and Central America. After being discovered by foreign invaders it travelled to many countries and became a favourite of the consumers.

Aztec emperor, Montezuma, in 1519, served a chocolate-based drink called ‘Xocol Ä t l ’ to Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés. He then took the drink back to Spain and experimented with it by adding vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar in order to improve the taste. Post this improvisation, in the 1600s, the drink became popular in France as well as England. However, solid chocolates were created in the 1800s.

Today mention chocolates and you set the mouths drooling. It is consumed not only as a sweet but is also used extensively in desserts.