Valentines Day Chocolate Presents & Gifts
Chocolate consists of several raw and processed foods that are derived from seeds of the tropical cacao tree that is native to the lowlands of South America and has been cultivated for over three thousand years. The cacao tree seeds have an extremely bitter taste and must be fermented to develop the desired flavor. Chocolate or cocoa are created only after the process of roasting and grounding the cacao seeds. The earliest documented evidence about the cultivation of cacao trees and the usage of its seeds in the South and Central Americas dates back to approximately 1100 to 1400 BC. The Mayans and Aztecs of and around Mexico made chocolate beverages known as xocolatl which means “bitter water.” Both the Aztecs and the Mayans were willing to tolerate chocolate’s harsh flavor because they directly linked it to their gods of fertility. Chocolate was considered a luxury throughout the pre-Columbian Mesoamerica and cacao beans were often even used as currency by the Aztecs.
Today, approximately two thirds of the world’s cocoa is produced in Western Africa and forty three percent in Ivory Coast. With the economy and particularly the cocoa industry being as volatile as it is, an estimated ninety percent of cocoa farms in Ivory Coast have used slave labor in order to survive. And according to the World Cocoa Foundation, over fifty million people around the globe rely on cocoa as their direct or indirect means of livelihood.
Chocolate has become the single most favorite flavor in the entire world and most of it today is formed into bars that are combined with cocoa solids, fats such as cocoa butter and sugar. Chocolate has also been molded into countless shapes including traditional symbols of holidays such as bunnies and eggs for Easter, coins for Hanukkah, Santa Claus for Christmas and hearts for Valentine’s Day. Chocolate is also used in beverages to produce cold chocolate milk or hot cocoa. Different flavors of chocolate are attained by varying the time and temperature of roasting the seeds, by changing proportions of ingredients as well as by introducing other non-chocolate elements.
The great pleasure in eating chocolate is due to the fact that it dissolves in the mouth because its melting point is slightly below the normal human body temperature. A study reported by BBC alludes to the fact that melting chocolate in one’s mouth activated the brain and intensifies the heart rate to a higher degree than passionate kissing and these effects last four times as long. This is most likely how the romantic lore and its belief that chocolate is an aphrodisiac came into being. Is there any wonder why everyone, or at least mostly every one, loves chocolate?
Now that you have read my article to this point and since you realize that Saint Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and you have not yet even decided what to buy for your chosen Valentine, order some nice chocolate. It will be received lovingly, believe me it will. My motto has always been, when all else fail just get some chocolate.
- Turn on your computer and shop from the comfort of your own home by starting at http://www.classbrain.com/artholiday/publish/chocoholic_valentine.shtml. Here you will find some wonderful items such as a Chocolate Truffle Box Cake which is all edible, including the bow and lid. Hearts of Love looks too beautiful to eat but you can eat it all, wrapping paper and ribbon as well. Chocolate Fondue for Two is a dipping, romantic fun experience for you and your beloved Valentine. The entire website is full of delicious works of art.
- At http://www.chocolatevault.com/valentine.htm you will find funny and cute molded Valentine chocolate gifts such as a solid chocolate heart sculptured and engraved to perfection, Valentine boxes, lacy heart and other sculptured lollipops and luscious lips. Remember that all these are made out of molded chocolate.
- You have been paying close attention and you know that your Valentine has recently started a diet and you do not want to sabotage such efforts. Why not send virtual chocolate from http://www.virtualchocolate.com/valentines/ which is one hundred percent non-caloric.
- Are you in the mood for taking a few risks? Check out Chocolate Fantasies at http://chocolatefantasies.com/warning.htm. Just make sure that your Valentine will not be offended.
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