The Magic that is Chocolate We are constantly trying to restrict what we eat. Every day we hear about yet another food we should cut out completely, or we get berated for not catching onto the latest food fad fast enough. One of the recurring stories in the food tabloids is the evil of sugar, and while it is true that in general the overall sugar consumption of the human race has increased exponentially and no doubt has adverse effects of our health, it has also meant the defamation of less guilty subject, chocolate. Mmm. Chocolate. Unfortunately much of the chocolate that we find on the market today is not chocolate at all, but rather a flimsy syrupy substitute masquerading as the real thing. This trite treat has lost all of its original zest and surely too its mystique. Chocolate originated in the foothills of the Andes, in the Amazon and Orinoco basins of South America. The cocoa bean was deemed so valuable that it was used as a common currency before the Spanish conquest. Montezuma the Second, Emperor of the Aztec civilization (the story goes) drank nothing but chocolate. He enjoyed his royal beverage in a golden goblet, whipped into a mouth-watering froth and flavored with vanilla and spices. It wasn’t long before chocolate was introduced to the Europe, and it was soon revered as the delicacy among delicacies. Revered isn’t too strong a word either: chocolate’s Latin name, Theobroma Cacao literally means “food of the gods”. The reason why chocolate was so highly regarded was the titillating sense of elevation that people originally experienced when partaking (and its ability to act as a powerful aphrodisiac was presumably also well noted). Today we know that the stimulating effects of chocolate come from the compound Theobromin, and that chocolate is a rich source of antioxidants which may well have anti-aging properties. Chocolate also contains high levels of flavonoids which are said to have a positive effect on the heart. Recent studies done on the Kuna people, who consume large amounts of cocoa as part of their daily lives, found that they have significantly lower rates of heart disease and cancer, which should be unsurprising, as it has been linked to a reduction in blood pressure. The benefits of cocoa are even believed to extend to the brain’s abilities to learn and remember. With all these incredible benefits at our chocolaty fingertips, it’s a wonder we don’t consume more of this charmed stuff. And after you tire of the cheap imitations, you’ll find that raw cocoa and dark chocolate products are readily available, and that they open up a whole new range of decadent culinary experiences. For instance, try adding a scoop of raw chocolate to your morning porridge. Chocolate can even be grated over salads, and adds a sensuous depth of flavor to a humble stew. And the moral of this decadent tale? Don’t deprive yourself of the chance to savoir this godly delicacy, and say yes to the magic that is chocolate.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 00:25:09 +0000
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