Category: News

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USAID Launches New Public-Private Partnership with Chocolate and Spices Industry

USAID Launches New Public-Private Partnership with Chocolate and Spices Industry

MG.USEMBASSY.GOV

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), on behalf of the American people, has launched a new $5.8 million, five-year, public-private partnership to strengthen Madagascar’s chocolate and spices industry, improve farmer livelihoods, and conserve biodiversity. The partnership, called “TSIRO Alliance,” is committed to supporting more than 2,000 farmers in 30 communities and planting more than 1.5 million trees over the next five years to support agroforestry systems and biodiversity.

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Switzerland Scientists are growing chocolates in a lab

Switzerland Scientists are growing chocolates in a lab

LIVEMINT.COM

Scientists in Switzerland are growing chocolates in a lab to tackle the deforestation and child labour caused by the world’s rising demand for chocolate. The scientists at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, begin the process by growing cell cultures from cocoa beans. The cultures are mixed with a nutrient solution and begin to multiply. The scientists harvest, dry, and roast the biomass. They add cocoa butter, sugar and an emulsifier called lecithin to produce a dark 70% strength chocolate.

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What’s the Best Way to Store Chocolate? (Hint, It’s Not in the Fridge)

What’s the Best Way to Store Chocolate? (Hint, It’s Not in the Fridge)

MARTHASTEWART.COM

Whether you’re saving some special chocolate bars for just the right moment or just received a gift box of truffles and bonbons, proper storage is key to ensuring that when you do enjoy that chocolate, it tastes just as delicious as it should. Here, two chocolatiers explain the best way to store chocolate (click, HERE).

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Medicinal and Ritual Uses of Chocolate in Mesoamerica

Medicinal and Ritual Uses of Chocolate in Mesoamerica

THECOSTARICANNEWS.COM

In Mesoamerica, the Mayans and Aztecs used chocolate for medicinal purposes and for their ceremonies. Although it may not be a crop native to the region, they thought it was discovered by the gods, who gave it to men. The Mayans held an annual festival with rituals in honor of the cocoa god Ek Chuah. Currently, there are various archaeological samples of these ceremonies.

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Chocolate milk will NOT be leaving this Virginia school division

Chocolate milk will NOT be leaving this Virginia school division

WSLS.COM

Does chocolate milk have too much sugar to be offered at school? This was a question raised by a parent representative during a review of the Health and Wellness Policy for Highland County Public Schools. In response to the concern, Highland County Public Schools posted a milk update on Facebook that the school division would only serve white milk starting the week of November 16, on a trial basis. Thus, the chocolate milk debate began.

 

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9 Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate

9 Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate

ECOWATCH.COM

Who doesn’t like chocolate? The good news is that some of it is good for you. While most of society has heard that dark chocolate has health benefits, most don’t know what they are or how they work on your body. Truth is, dark chocolate is one of the best sources of antioxidants out there. Made from cacao tree seeds, this sweet treat lowers risk of heart disease and is chock full of nutrients, specifically flavanols.

 

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Why a Dentist Says Chocolate is Better for your Teeth Than These Candies

Why a Dentist Says Chocolate is Better for your Teeth Than These Candies

MASHED.COM

While sugar is known to make kids hyper, it is also known to erode tooth enamel, causing cavities and other tooth issues. But while we can’t think of a way to make candy good for teeth, there are a few ways to lessen the negative impact all that sugar can have on our dental health. One of the most important things to note is that not all candies are created equal. Some sugary treats are harder on the teeth than others.

 

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26% of People Say This Is the Worst Chocolate Candy

26% of People Say This Is the Worst Chocolate Candy

EATTHIS.COM

Halloween is fast approaching and before you know it, the big day will be here. A new poll from MASHED reveals that one candy, in particular, stands out among chocoholics as the single worst chocolate candy to give out on Halloween. Milk Duds have been part of the world’s candy consciousness since they first hit the market in 1928. However, a whopping 26% of MASHED’s survey respondents called these movie theater staples the worst of the worst. For more of the best and worst chocolates, click HERE.

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Should You Drink Chocolate Milk After a Workout?

Should You Drink Chocolate Milk After a Workout?

BATONROUGECLINIC.COM

Refueling your body properly after an intense workout is important. Doing so replenishes energy, repairs muscles, replaces electrolytes and hydrates. But with so many options to choose from—bars, shakes, sports drinks and more—it can be hard to know what the best way to refuel is. Chocolate milk has long been a favorite post-recovery drink for athletes, especially runners. But some may wonder if this drink has what it takes to refuel your body properly. Here’s a deep dive into why you may want to sip chocolate milk after your next intense sweat sesh (click HERE).

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Remarkable true Jewish history of chocolate revealed in new book

Remarkable true Jewish history of chocolate revealed in new book

STLJEWISHLIGHT.ORG

Before you take your next bite of some delicious chocolate, you may want to check out a new book by British autor Michael Leventhal, that explores the history of chocolate in Jewish food and culture. In his book, the author of “The Chocolate King,” which won a PJ Library Author Incentive Award, creates a unique recipe book, bringing together individual recipes from more than fifty noted Jewish bakers.

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Chocolate Academy North America launches Academy Magazine

Chocolate Academy North America launches Academy Magazine

CANDYINDUSTRY.COM

Barry Callebaut’s North American Chocolate Academy Centers have launched the biannual Academy Magazine. Academy Magazine’s first issue explores the latest industry trends, delves into tips and tricks, and introduces the latest from Barry Callebaut’s gourmet house of brands. For the summer 2021 edition, Chocolate Academy Chefs in Chicago and Montreal have come together to share a professional collection of recipes and step-by-step tutorials in pastry, confectionery and baking.

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Dark Chocolate, Are You Healthy?

Dark Chocolate, Are You Healthy?

SFEXAMINER.COM

Calling all Chocoholics! Are you feeling guilty for every second bite of your favorite food? Did you know you could actually call dark chocolate a vegetable as the cocoa seeds grow on trees? Also, it does show up on all of those “healthy for your heart” food lists in different blogs and articles. What Do the Experts Say? In moderation, dark chocolate provides many benefits for your body, from its potential to reduce inflammation to lowering your risk of heart disease. Are you not convinced? Here’s the data to back it up (click, HERE)!

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KitKat bar is most famous chocolate candy around the world

KitKat bar is most famous chocolate candy around the world

WYTV.COM

This candy bar has been around and popular since 1935.  In 2014, Time Magazine interviewed candy experts and historians, to find the top candy bars that had the biggest impact on the chocolate bar industry and the world. Time points out the Kit Kat bar was the first candy to be marketed around the concept of sharing. It was also one of the first candy bars to become popular around the world. Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar took second place on the list. Toblerone, Nestlé’s Milk Chocolate Bar and Snickers rounded out the top five.

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People who eat some cheese, yogurt, or chocolate every day have a lower risk of heart disease, study finds

People who eat some cheese, yogurt, or chocolate every day have a lower risk of heart disease, study finds

INSIDER.COM

Research suggests a mostly plant-based diet can improve your heart health. However, you don’t need to go totally vegan — evidence suggests foods like cheese, chocolate, and yogurt have benefits, too.

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Barrel-aged Chocolate

Barrel-aged Chocolate

WINESPECTATOR.COM

Barrel aging is a key process in wine and spirits production. Lately, chocolate roasters have discovered that using Bourbon, rum, Port, Sherry, Sauternes and Cognac barrels to age their cacao nibs or finished chocolate can impart a variety of flavors like caramel, vanilla and cherry to their products.

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Eating chocolate an hour after waking or an hour before bed could help older women burn fat and sleep better, a small study suggests

Eating chocolate an hour after waking or an hour before bed could help older women burn fat and sleep better, a small study suggests

INSIDER.COM

One small study recently published in the FASEB Journal of 19 postmenopausal women found that two small windows of time are especially effective for eating chocolate and reaping the benefits. According to the study, older women were more likely to benefit from consuming a small portion of chocolate (about 85 grams daily) one hour after waking or one hour before bed.

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Can you REALLY eat chocolate every day and stay healthy? Dietitians answer the common query – and share a simple trick for feeling full from less

Can you REALLY eat chocolate every day and stay healthy? Dietitians answer the common query – and share a simple trick for feeling full from less

DAILYMAIL.CO.UK

Dietitians Susie Burrell and Leanne Ward revealed if eating chocolate is healthy. They said you can eat it, provided it’s your only ‘soul food’ of each given day. Their trick is to remember the pleasure you get is highest in the first few squares. The dietitians treat themselves to the brand they love most and eat mindfully.

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Notes on chocolate: to roast or not to roast?

Notes on chocolate: to roast or not to roast?

THEGUARDIAN.COM

Unroasted means raw and there’s a lot of debate about raw chocolate and is it actually raw if it’s been fermented, etc. Raw purists don’t think cocoa beans should be roasted (they say it interferes with the flavor) and those that roast think raw chocolate isn’t really chocolate because roasting brings out the flavor.

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Historic flood engulfs renowned Belgian chocolate factory

Historic flood engulfs renowned Belgian chocolate factory

FRANCE24.COM

As the floodwaters receded in the river valleys of industrial eastern Belgium, the smell of cocoa was mixed with the stench of spilled fuel oil and churned up river mud. Among the many businesses knocked temporarily out of action by the unprecedented inundation was the Galler factory, home to one of the country’s iconic luxury chocolate brands.

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Choosing the right chocolate

Choosing the right chocolate

FOODBUSINESSNEWS.NET

Americans love their chocolate. It’s the go-to sweet indulgence for many. And it comes in several forms. Chips, chunks and blocks. Dark, milk and white chocolate. Alkalized and natural cocoa powders. There’s a chocolate for every dessert. But figuring out the best ways to use chocolate in formulations takes a deep understanding about the ins and outs of each format.

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Chocolate helps control hunger and appetite in postmenopausal women

Chocolate helps control hunger and appetite in postmenopausal women

WWLTV.COM

The researchers stated, “our results also show that chocolate in the morning decreases fasting glucose. Chocolate may improve glucose homeostasis by slowing carbohydrate digestion and absorption.” There were also favorable changes in the participants microbiota’s short chain fatty acid content that may have accounted for better hunger control. Before you make a beeline to the nearest chocolate bar, this study involved a small number of targeted female participants—postmenopausal females. One size does not fit all. To read this study, you can access it by going to maxwellnutrition.com.

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This Giant Chocolate Bar Is the Sign for a Japanese Chocolate Factory

This Giant Chocolate Bar Is the Sign for a Japanese Chocolate Factory

TECHNABOB.COM

This gigantic chocolate bar is the façade of the Meiji Confectionery factory in Osaka, Japan. It measures roughly 544 feet wide and 91 feet tall, and holds the Guinness World Record for the largest advertising board made of plastic. (I guess if they made it from chocolate it would quickly melt in the sun!). Click, here, to see.

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New research findings on the health benefits of chocolate

New research findings on the health benefits of chocolate

MDLINX.COM

We Americans love our chocolate—in fact, we consume a whopping 2.8 billion pounds of the stuff per year. This breaks down to 11 pounds per person! Although this may sound like a lot, the Swiss—perhaps not surprisingly—consume the most chocolate in the world, followed by residents of the United Kingdom. With all this indulgence, it’s no wonder that chocolate has become a focus of health research. But is chocolate good for you? Some studies say yes.

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How the mold influences a chocolate bar’s crystalline structure

How the mold influences a chocolate bar’s crystalline structure

SCIENCEDAILY.COM

When enjoying a chocolate bar, most people don’t think about how the molecules within it are organized. But different arrangements of the fats in chocolate can influence its taste and texture. Now, researchers have found that the side of a chocolate bar facing the mold has a more orderly crystalline structure than the side facing air, knowledge that might help chocolatiers produce tastier confections, the researchers say.

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Which chocolate flavor does your state taste like?

Which chocolate flavor does your state taste like?

THETAKEOUT.COM

If you could condense your home state into a single flavor, what would it be? Chocolatier Phillip Ashley Rix thinks Missouri, for example, tastes like vanilla custard—at least, based on his new Taste of America chocolate collection, with 50 unique pieces of chocolate to represent the 50 states. Click, HERE, and find the list of states and their chocolate flavors.

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Willy Wonka Who? Harrods Built a Chocolate Lover’s Paradise With Its $421 Million Renovation

Willy Wonka Who? Harrods Built a Chocolate Lover’s Paradise With Its $421 Million Renovation

ROBBREPORT.COM

When Charles Henry Harrod coined his store’s catchphrase in 1849, it is safe to assume that he did not foresee the consequences that would unfold 172 years later. Harrods’ motto of “Omnia Omnibus Ubique” translates from the Latin, less catchily, as “all things for all people, everywhere.” So imagine a department store floor just for chocolate.  And not only that, but, London’s most iconic department store is selling a single bar of chocolate for £350 ($491). Never has the intention to be inclusive been more exclusive.

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A Maryland candy company is cooking up chocolate covered cicadas

A Maryland candy company is cooking up chocolate covered cicadas

CNN.COM

A Maryland candy company is selling chocolate covered cicadas to celebrate the emergence of the noisy insects that have spent the last 17 years underground.  Chouquette Chocolates is selling the cicadas — dipped in either milk or dark chocolate — online, but it also posted the recipe on its Facebook page for brave chefs looking for something to do with the bugs.

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The Hershey Company Plans To Acquire Health Conscious Chocolate Company Lily

The Hershey Company Plans To Acquire Health Conscious Chocolate Company Lily

DAILYVOICE.COM

The Hershey Company has signed an agreement to acquire Lily’s, health conscious chocolate company. Lily’s makes low-sugar products include dark and milk chocolate bars, baking chips, peanut butter cups and other confection products that align with Hershey’s multi-pronged better-for-you snacking strategy.

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The chocolate market was impacted by COVID-19 during its onset in 2020

The chocolate market was impacted by COVID-19 during its onset in 2020

GLOBENEWSWIRE.COM

Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report “Chocolate Market – Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2021 – 2026)” – https://www.reportlinker.com/p06067779/?utm_source=GNW. Consumers’ in-home consumption of chocolates witnessed a steep rise during the lockdown. Chocolates, among other consumables, were bought in bulk, which led to higher volume sales through supermarkets and hypermarkets. On the other hand, the premium sector of the global chocolate market was severely affected by low sales volume due to the COVID-19 pandemic, partly due to supply-side issues linked to quality and certification. Consequently, varied public sectors provided support to the strengthening partnership between fine cocoa producers and chocolate companies to enhance the resilience of marketing infrastructure. In 2020, the chocolate market witnessed an inclination toward the darker varieties of chocolate, as consumers showed preference for them over other varieties, on account of better health benefits, lower in calories, and altering perception toward premiumization.

 

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Hershey’s Recalls Chocolate Topping After Bottles Were Accidentally Filled with Nuts

Hershey’s Recalls Chocolate Topping After Bottles Were Accidentally Filled with Nuts

PEOPLE.COM

The Hershey Company has issued a voluntary recall for its Hershey’s Chocolate Shell Topping after at least 1,700 bottles were incorrectly filled with Heath Shell Topping, which contains almonds. The recall notice, which was posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and also on Hershey’s website, says that the 7.25-oz bottles containing the almonds were shipped nationwide between April 15 and May 3 with the product code 25JSAS1. Anyone with an allergy or severe sensitivity to almonds may be at risk of a life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the recalled products. The recall notice says that the “situation arose due to an isolated error at a contract manufacturing facility,” and Hershey took “immediate steps” to ensure the issue did not occur again. There have been no reports of illness or injury, according to the recall notice.

 

 

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Spanish Confectioners Create Life-Size Chocolate Replica of Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ – with a half ton of chocolate

Spanish Confectioners Create Life-Size Chocolate Replica of Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ – with a half ton of chocolate

SMITHSONIANMAG.COM

In 1937, Pablo Picasso channeled fierce anti-fascist and anti-militaristic sentiment into an 11.5- by 25.5-foot painting titled Guernica, rendering the horrors of war in stark geometry and shades of gray, black and white. The iconic mural has since inspired countless imitations in other mediums, including a fiber-art version and one composed entirely out of Legos. Compared with its peers, the latest rendition of Guernica is significantly sweeter. As Vincent West and Nathan Allen report for Reuters, confectioners in Spain’s Basque Country recently created an all-chocolate version of the Cubist masterpiece in honor of the 85th anniversary of the April 1937 bombing that inspired the mural. To see what it looks like, click here.

 

 

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EAT THIS, NOT THAT!: What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Dark Chocolate

EAT THIS, NOT THAT!: What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Dark Chocolate

EATTHIS.COM

There’s no better dessert for the pseudo-healthy than dark chocolate. The age-old myth about dark chocolate is that it is a relatively healthy dessert option. In fact, rumor has it that dark chocolate isn’t just less unhealthy, but that it might have some nutritional value of its own—a rich combination of beneficial antioxidants.