Category: News

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.

Happy National Chocolate Pretzel Day! October 7, 2021

 

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).

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.

Happy National Chocolate Milk Day! September 27, 2021

 

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.

Oldest person in the world thriving thanks to Coca Cola and chocolate

WFLA.COM

Japan now has 86,510 people who are over 100 years old, breaking records for 51 consecutive years. 88 percent of the centenarians are women, including Tanaka Kane. She’s now the world’s oldest person at age 118, and happily enjoys her chocolate and Coca Cola.

Good chocolate needs tempering — a team of Canadian scientists just found a shortcut

NATIONALPOST.COM

The gloss, snap and melt of high-quality chocolate depends on tempering; a team of University of Guelph food scientists has found a new way.

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)!

Hershey claims all teardrop-shaped chocolate is its intellectual property

THETAKEOUT.COM

Hershey is embroiled in a legal battle after complaining about another company’s cookie packaging.

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.

A cocoa bean’s ‘fingerprint’ could help trace chocolate bars back to their farm of origin

SCIENCEDAILY.COM

A new study from the University of Surrey has revealed that biotechnology could be the missing ingredient in helping cocoa farmers get a better deal for their beans.

Phospholipids create just the right crystals for silky smooth chocolate – no tempering needed

CHEMISTRYWORLD.COM

Scientists have discovered how a single ingredient can create glossy, tasty, melt-in-the-mouth chocolate without having to go through the complex and lengthy tempering process.

Will Chocolate Survive Climate Change? Actually, Maybe

DAILY.JSTOR.ORG

The forecast has been bad for domesticated cacao. But some environments in Peru might hold the key to the future of the world’s sweet tooth.

Should you eat ‘dusty’ looking chocolate?

BREAKINGONE.COM

You’re unwrapping your favorite chocolate bar when all of a sudden, surprise! It has turned…white? What do you do with it? Buzz60’s Maria Mercedes Galuppo has the answer (click, HERE).

Happy International Chocolate Day! September 13, 2021

 

Happy National Chocolate Milkshake Day! September 12, 2021

 

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.

Israel intercepts 23 tons of chocolate it says was intended to finance Hamas

TIMESOFISRAEL.COM

Israeli security officials captured and confiscated a shipment of 23 tons of chocolate bars headed to the Gaza Strip they say was part of a network financing Hamas military operations in the territory.

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.

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.

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.

Happy National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day! August 4, 2021

 

World’s first lab-grown chocolate made in Switzerland

FREETHINK.COM

Researchers at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) have developed a way to make lab-grown chocolate — adding a sweet treat to the lengthening list of lab-grown foods.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Man creates actual playable flute made entirely of chocolate

CLASSICFM.COM

It appears to be the world’s first playable chocolate flute. A pastry chef and a flautist walked into a bar… and created what appears to be the world’s first ever playable chocolate flute. Click, here, to see!

Happy National Milk Chocolate Day! July 28, 2021

 

Chocolate Outlook Seems Sweet

CSTOREDECISIONS.COM

Chocolate sales are on the upswing at convenience stores, and retailers are optimistic for the months ahead as pandemic restrictions lift.

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.

Barry Callebaut to acquire Europe Chocolate Co.

FOODBUSINESSNEWS.NET

The Barry Callebaut Group has reached an agreement to acquire Europe Chocolate Co. (ECC), a Belgian privately-owned business-to-business manufacturer of chocolate specialties and decorations.

Premium chocolate maker Scharffen Berger returns to private ownership

FOODDIVE.COM

Premium chocolate maker Scharffen Berger has returned to private ownership after The Hershey Co. sold the brand for an undisclosed amount.

Happy Chocolate Day! July 7, 2021

 

Happy National Chocolate Ice Cream Day! June 7, 2021

 

Scientists discover new ‘chocolate frog’ in swamp

ABC57.COM

A team of Australian scientists has discovered a curious “chocolate frog” tree frog in the lowland rainforests of New Guinea. Tree frogs are known for their green skin — but due to its brown coloring, researchers named it “chocolate frog” — and the name stuck.

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.

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.

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.

Here’s why chocolate is about to get a whole lot more expensive

KMJNOW.COM

The meteoric rise in palm oil prices is poised to inflate costs for everyone from restaurants to confectionery and cosmetic manufacturers, and could potentially change consumption patterns.

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.

Is chocolate actually good for you?

CONTENTEXCHANGE.COM

Dr. Sanjay Gupta tell us how eating certain types of chocolate can help us live to 100 (click, HERE, for video presentation).

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.

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.

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

Two compounds can make chocolate smell musty and moldy

EUREKALERT.ORG

Chocolate is a beloved treat, but sometimes the cocoa beans that go into bars and other sweets have unpleasant flavors or scents, making the final products taste bad. Surprisingly, only a few compounds associated with these stinky odors are known. Now, researchers reporting in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry have identified the two compounds that cause musty, moldy scents in cocoa — work that can help chocolatiers ensure the quality of their products.

 

Covid-19: Dark chocolate, fish, eggs in government’s list of foods to build immunity

INDIANEXPRESS.COM

In the pandemic, there has been a lot of emphasis on healthy eating. Experts have always insisted that your health and immunity are directly dependent on the food you eat. As such, the government has listed some food items on its mygovindia Twitter handle, which it recommends you consume to boost your natural immunity amid the Covid crisis. Read on (CLICK “HERE“)

 

After masked bunnies, Belgian artisan shifts to chocolate syringes

REUTERS.COM

A Belgian chocolate company that put white masks on its Easter bunnies a year ago is now producing large chocolate syringes as it tries to keep step with the evolving trend of the coronavirus pandemic. And as Belgium steps up its vaccination campaign against COVID-19, specialist confectioner Cocoatree is also touting the natural health benefits of chocolate as a kind of “vaccine” in its own right against certain conditions. To see what the bunnies with syringes look like and how they are made, click, “here“.

 

Chocolate Necco Wafers are making a return in Boston

WHDH.COM

Chocolate Necco Wafers are making a return to New England, the Spangler Candy Company announced Monday. Rolls of the candy will be handed out at two points along the Boston Marathon route on Patriots’ Day in an effort to “fill the absence of something iconic with something nostalgic,” according to the company.

Coffee v/s Chocolate: Which one is best for your skin & hair health?

INDIATIMES.COM

Many of us start their day with a cup of coffee and end it with a piece of dark chocolate. There are reasons why something typically referred to as junk food or addiction might be slightly healthier than people give it credit for. There are potential health benefits you can expect from eating a moderate amount of dark chocolate or drinking coffee on your skin and hair. High quality dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, iron, fiber, copper, manganese, magnesium and other minerals. Coffee is loaded with antioxidants as well.

How Brexit Ruined Easter for Britain’s Chocolate Makers

NYTIMES.COM

For the second year in a row, Easter was largely online affair, with socially distanced egg hunts and virtual church services. But there was one notable difference in Britain. Domestic chocolate makers, who should be celebrating one of their busiest times of year, were fuming instead, and all of them cite the same cause: Brexit.

Police looking for group who poured chocolate syrup over merchandise at Michigan Target

WSOCTV.COM

WOODHAVEN, Mich. — Police are searching for five men who poured chocolate syrup over merchandise at a Michigan Target then left the store. Surveillance video shows the group go to the seasonal area of the store around at 10 p.m. last Friday, pour Hershey’s syrup over myriad products and then leave the store. They were in the store for about 10 minutes and caused about $1,000 worth of damage, authorities said.

Chocolate for constipation is not a new idea

SEATTLETIMES.COM

There is research to support that chocolate or cocoa could act as a laxative (Nutrition & Metabolism, April 18, 2012). Eat an ounce or so of dark chocolate and you could be in the bathroom within about 20 minutes! The authors of the study conclude that “regular consumption of cocoa products increases dietary fiber intake and … improves bowel habits.” Researchers have also shown that probiotic chocolate can improve bowel function in constipated rats (Food Research International, February 2019).

Swiss scientists say poop is one of the essential tastes of chocolate

MYCBS4.COM

Swiss scientists have broken down the aromas of cocoa and chocolate and identified poop as one of the major scents.

Chocolate, raspberries, sweet potatoes among the best 17 healthy foods

147WALLST.COM

First there was Atkins diet, then keto, and a range of raw and other dietary fads. These days, gut health is all the rage. And the best way to take care of the good microorganisms in the gut, according to doctors and research, is to nourish them with healthy foods.

Eating Chocolate Before Bed Is a Bad Idea—Here’s Why

WELLANDGOOD.COM

Sleep is something everybody wants more of these days. Despite the fact that our bodies are capable of basically growing a new skeleton every 10 years, something as seemingly small as eating the wrong thing before bed can really mess them up. Two experts name the foods to avoid eating late at night, and both agreed that chocolate before bed is a no good, very bad idea.