World Chocolate Day
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World Chocolate Day, sometimes known as International Chocolate Day, or just Chocolate Day, is the annual celebration for all lovers of that dark and delicious confection known as chocolate.
There is however more than one Chocolate Day celebrated around the world.
The most widely accepted date for World Chocolate Day is July 7th, which is thought to be the anniversary of the introduction of chocolate to Europe from the Americas in 1550.
Other Chocolate Day celebrations include:-
- National Chocolate Day in the United States on 28th October.
- 13th September is International Chocolate Day, which coincides with the birth date of Milton S. Hershey, creator of the greatest chocolate abomination known to man, the Hershey Bar.
- Ghana, the second largest producer of cocoa in the world, celebrates Chocolate Day on February 14th, which of course is a day that creates something of a spike in chocolate sales.
- February 9th is also regarded as Chocolate Day, as it is during Valentine's Week. On that day lovers share chocolate hearts with each other.
Chocolate was known to the inhabitants of Mesoamerica, possibly from almost 2000 years BC. It was usually consumed as a drink rather than the chocolate bars that we eat now.
Image Credit: Tetiana Bykovets
What Is Chocolate?
Chocolate is made from the seeds of the cacao tree, which in their raw form have an intensly bitter taste. They must be fermented to develop the flavour, after which the seeds are dried, cleaned, and roasted.
The shell is then removed to produce cocoa nibs, which are ground to form cocoa mass. This is unadulterated chocolate in a rough form. Next the cocoa mass is liquefied by heating when it becomes chocolate liquor (That does not mean that it is alcoholic - just that it is in liquid form.) The liquor can also be cooled and processed into its two components: cocoa solids and cocoa butter.
Only now is it ready to be made into chocolate products. That's a lot of effort, which is why it was revered in the Central and South American countries where it originated.
How To Celebrate Chocolate Day
This shouldn't be too much of a stretch - eat some chocolate! You could also give a gift of chocolate to the one you love, or you could also cook your favourite chocolate recipe to share with your loved one - or scoff the lot yourself.
Image Credit: American Heritage Chocolate
Or maybe you could drink a hot chocolate drink, just as the ancient Mayans and Aztecs did. If you are feeling adventurous, why not try a new flavour?
Have a go at this Chocolate themed printable wordsearch.
Books To Read On Chocolate Day
While you are enjoying a hot chocolate or chomping on a choccy bar, why not settle down and read some chocolate related literature too?
- Chocolat by Joanne Harris - a love letter to chocolate.
- Like Water For Chocolate by Laura Esquival - features recipes in each chapter.
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl - the ultimate child's wish-fulfillment fantasy. Check which edition you find - the original version as Dahl wrote it or the recent edited for sensitivity versions.