World Chocolate Day
So Thursday July the 7 was World Chocolate Day, and it almost slipped me. Well, actually, it kind of did slip me. If it wasn’t for a certain someone reminding me, then the entire day would have gone by without me having an inkling of what that day meant. (cough, cough, thank you Krystle, cough).
For those who know me, then you’d know that one of my most favorite things, next to coffee, is chocolate! Seriously! I’m a die-hard fan of the stuff. There was a period in my life where every day I would be sneaking a chocolate candy bar (which I should not have been doing due to my lactose intolerance, something I probably have mentioned in one of my previous post, but I digress.)
The point is, World Chocolate Day is a big deal for me, and a lot of other people all over the globe. It’s a day where we get to indulge ourselves in chocolate candies and other products made from cocoa and also try to highlight the health benefits that chocolate brings. Which, there are. Dark chocolate
especially, provides benefits such as;
Benefits of Chocolate
- Stimulating weight loss
- It is a good source of antioxidants
- It can improve blood flow and lower blood pressure
- It is good for your skin and may protect you from heart disease
How Did World Chocolate Day Begin
World Chocolate Day was established in 2009, and it marks an anniversary for the day that the iconic dessert made its first appearance in Europe in 1550. Chocolate comes from the cocoa tree, which is mainly found in warm, sub-tropic climates, like Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean.
Our own country of Trinidad and Tobago at one point was one of the largest suppliers of cocoa for the production of chocolate. Africa now holds that title, growing 70% of the world’s cocoa.
As for, ‘How World Chocolate Day is celebrated?’, that is really up to you. Some shops and business that specialize in chocolate products advertise more and have sales and specials on some of their more popular products. Some people treat the occasion like they would Valentine’s day. They go out and purchase chocolates and share them with someone whom they like, or they just buy it for themselves and stuff themselves full. I know that I would definitely fall into that last category. Shameful, I know. Really though, there is not set way that you have to follow if you’re celebrating this day. You can do pretty much what you want as long as it involves chocolate. The way I like to do it is at the end of the day, I just grab myself a chocolate candy bar and sit down with
a mug of hot coffee.
Chocolate has become a vital part of the world. No matter where you go, you are bound to find chocolate in some shape or form. It has incorporated itself in so many types of foods and even medicines. At one point, before it became so world popular, chocolate was a form of currency used by the ancient Mayans. For them, money kind of did grow on trees.
