Chocolate Facts

There are many myths and false facts about chocolate including those about its production, quality, properties and history. Chocolate is a very popular confectionery treat throughout the world, both as a drink and a solid bar. It has been enjoyed as a mood enhancer and even an aphrodisiac throughout the centuries. Knowing genuine facts about your favorite food may enhance your enjoyment of it and also help keep it in tip-top condition.

Chocolates are always favorite with kids and adult. Kids can indulge themselves in chocolates anytime. Now here are some interesting facts for the kids about chocolates. Chocolate is actually obtained from the cacao tree, which is 12 meters high and bears small pinkish flowers that grow into pods, and each pod produces 20 to 40 beans.

A tree is likely to bear 60 to 70 such pods after its fourth year. After harvesting, the pod is split and the beans are allowed to ferment for several days. Then the beans are dried, cleaned, roasted and ground to yield a paste called chocolate liquor. After further processing and blending, this paste is made into a variety of chocolate products. This is how chocolates are made out of the chocolate beans. Another striking fact is the name of the cocoa tree.

The botanical name for this tree from which chocolate is obtained is Theobroma Cacao which means “Food of the Gods” and the name seems to be appropriate. Kids will definitely love to know some more attention-grabbing facts about chocolates. Chocolate has 500 flavors in it. Cocoa beans were used as currency by the Aztecs and the Mayans. It is also an interesting fact that Napoleon took chocolate along with him during his military campaigns and had them whenever he required more energy.