Interesting facts about chocolate

chocolate

The scientific name for the tree that chocolate comes from, Theobroma cacao, means “food of the gods.”

The smell of chocolate increases theta brain waves, which triggers relaxation.

Chocolate has over 600 flavor compounds, while red wine has 200.

It takes approximately 400 cacao beans to make one pound (450 gr.) of chocolate.

Chocolate is the only edible substance to melt around 32°C ( 90°F), just below human body temperature. That’s why chocolate melts in your mouth.

melting chocolate

Candy bars generally have less than 10 milligrams of caffeine, but the darker the chocolate, the higher the caffeine content.

According to the International Cocoa Organization, Europeans account for almost half the world’s chocolate consumption. They estimate the average Brit, Swiss, or German eat 11 kilograms (24 pounds) of chocolate a year.

In celebration of its 100th birthday, Thorntons created the world’s largest chocolate bar – weighing a record breaking 5,792.50 kilograms (12,770 pounds).

worlds largest chocolate bar

The English chocolate company Cadbury made the first chocolate bar in the world in 1842.

The inventor of the Chocolate Chip Cookie sold the idea to Nestle Toll House in return for a lifetime supply of chocolate.

M&Ms were created in 1941 as a means for soldiers to enjoy chocolate without it melting.

Nutella was invented during WWII, when an Italian pastry maker mixed hazelnuts into chocolate to extend his cocoa supply.

So many Toblerone bars are sold each year that, if they were to be laid end to end, they would go on for 62,000 kilometers  (38,525 miles) which longer than the circumference of the Earth.

Milky Way candy bars are not named after the galaxy. The name came from the malted milkshakes whose flavor they originally intended to mimic.

Known as “The World’s Most Expensive Chocolate Bar,” the Wispa Gold Wrapped Bar is offered by Cadbury. It was designed as a marketing campaign to relaunch their brand of caramel chocolate bars, Wispa Gold. But this expensive version is actually wrapped in an edible gold leaf. It cost $1,430 per bar.

the worldss most expensive chocolate bar

In 2013, Belgium issued a limited edition of chocolate flavored stamps.

There is a rare fourth kind of chocolate in addition to the classic milk, dark, and white varieties: blond chocolate.

White Chocolate isn’t technically Chocolate, as it contains no cocoa solids or cocoa liquor. White “chocolate” contains cocoa butter instead.

Eating dark chocolate every day reduces the risk of heart disease by one-third.

Dark chocolate may improve blood flow and lower blood pressure.

Dark chocolate is a powerful source of antioxidants.

Dark chocolate may also improve the function of the brain.

chocolate brain

Theobromine, the compound in chocolate that makes it poisonous to dogs, can kill a human as well.

A lethal dose of chocolate for a human being is about 10 kilograms (22 lbs).

The word “chocolate” comes from the Aztec word “xocoatl,” which referred to the bitter, spicy drink the Aztecs made from cacao beans.

The ancient Maya are believed to be the first people to regularly grow cacao trees and drink chocolate.

In Mayan times the cocoa bean was used as currency as it was considered to be worth more than gold dust. Cultivation of the beans was restricted so the value of cocoa beans as money would not go down.

Contrary to popular belief, mice actually prefer chocolate over cheese every time! Mice love sweet smelling food so they would be more tempted by a piece of chocolate than a chunk of cheddar.

The film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was financed by Quaker Oats to promote its new Wonka Bar candy. This is also why the film is called “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” instead of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” like the book it’s based on.