The History of Mexican Chocolate

The cacao tree, which chocolate comes from, originated in Mesoamerica. Native Peoples used the cacao tree to produce a potent drink that is a far cry from the modern sweet incarnations of chocolate today. Historians disagree over where exactly in Mesoamerica the trees first appeared, but what they do agree on is that people first began to prepare cacao for human enjoyment in Mexico. Native Peoples used cacao beans to make drinks, as religious offerings, and they were even used as a from of currency. Nowadays, when people think of Mexican chocolate, they picture the cinnamon-scented variety commonly used in many Mexican style dishes and beverages.

The chocolate prepared in Mexico in pre-European Mexico possessed a strong, sour taste different from modern chocolate. It is well-known that Native Peoples prized this chocolate and used it in a variety of dishes and drinks. The first known large-scale "farmer" and consumers of chocolate were the Mayans, who inhabited Central Mexico.

The Aztecs, who rose to dominance after the Mayans, inherited the Mayan affinity for chocolate, which became even more culturally significant for them than it had for the Mayan people. Chocolate was a symbol of power and authority to the Aztecs, and people even used cacao beans as currency. The cacao beans were so valuable, that counterfeiting by filling cacao shells with clay was not uncommon.

The most popular use of the cacao bean in pre-European Mexico was to produce a chocolate drink. To make the drink, producers fermented, toasted, and ground the cacao bean into a powder which provided the drink's base. Often, people used different spices such as chiles, anise seed, allspice, and vanilla to add flavor. While this drink was a favorite among the rich, it was also religiously significant. The Aztecs gave the drink to human sacrifices to purify them. The Spanish also quickly developed a taste for chocolate not long after their arrival in Mexico. They then introduced it to Europe where a hot chocolate like drink became very popular.

Modern Mexican chocolate still retains many qualities of its predecessor. Makers still use some of the same spices as the Aztecs, as well as cinnamon and sugar to produce a chocolate with a unique flavor, texture, and aroma. It provides the base for hot chocolate beverages and serves as a key ingredient to several Mexican dishes such as Mole. Mexican chocolate is best recognized when sold in the form of small solid discs. The Spanish began the practice of storing chocolate in the shape of discs in the 1500s, and it continues to today. The modern world owes thanks to Mexico's long history with chocolate for providing one of the world's favorite treats.

For more history and to get some traditional recipes, visit http://www.mexicanhotchocolaterecipe.com

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Chocolate Can Help You!

In a dieter's perfect world, all diets would include chocolate. For years researchers have been trying to convince us that chocolate is beneficial to our health. Many chocoholics ran with this idea and started eating chocolate like crazy; that didn't turn out very well for some. Researchers have recently found out that chocolate is actually incredibly beneficial to many areas of the body including the heart and the brain. This does not mean that we can run to the nearest grocery store and buy five candy bars; the key to chocolate being beneficial is to eat it in moderation and to eat chocolate in the purest, darkest forms possible.

The most recent research studies have shown that by regularly eating chocolate you can reduce the risk of both high blood pressure and diabetes. High blood pressure and diabetes are both leading risk factors for heart attack, stroke and heart disease. Chocolate contains polyphenols which are antioxidants that help produce nitric oxide. An increase of nitric oxide could help with circulation and blood flow in general which would then lower blood pressure. Chocolate is also rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants have been found to lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Chocolate has also been proven to help cure emotional stress. The consumption of an ounce and a half of dark chocolate for two weeks straight has shown to lower stress levels tremendously.

If you are planning are adding chocolate to your diet for beneficial reasons always remember; the more cocoa present in whatever chocolate treat you are enjoying, the better. The majority of fat found in chocolate is coco butter. Coco butter is composed of oleic and stearic acids, having a diet containing foods that have these two acids in them have been known to lower cholesterol. Some people might question the sugar found in chocolate. Sugar is definitely going to be present, but what some do not understand is that there is approximately ten to fifteen grams of sugar per serving of dark chocolate. Most fruit juices contain three times that amount of sugar in one eight ounce glass.

At the end of the day, chocolate is still chocolate. It has been proven to do great things but if you go off the deep end you could end up doing more harm than good. As stated before, if you do decide to add chocolate to your diet, make sure you are choosing the healthiest forms of the tasty treat.

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Tasty Chocolate Recipes: Candy Clusters, Moist Brownies, and Pound Cake

You can make delicious chocolate treats without being an expert cook, candy maker, or baker. The recipes in this article are easy and will produce yummy results. Raisin Walnut Clusters makes great chocolate cluster candies using only 4 ingredients. The Chocolate Syrup Brownies are frosted by sprinkling chocolate chips over the brownies while hot from the oven, and Yummy Chocolate Pound Cake is easy and delicious.

RAISIN WALNUT CLUSTERS
8 oz chocolate candy coating
2 tbsp butter or shortening
1 1/2 cup broken walnuts
1/2 cup raisins

Line a baking sheet with waxed paper; set aside.

In a double boiler, melt the chocolate candy coating with the butter or shortening, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat, when totally melted. Add the walnuts and raisins mixing well to coat. Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate for at least a half hour or until set.

Yield: about 2 dozen candy clusters

CHOCOLATE SYRUP BROWNIES
1 stick butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 can (16-oz) chocolate syrup
4 eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 of a small pkg chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13-inch pan; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, melt butter in the microwave. Remove from the microwave and add the sugar and chocolate syrup; beat well.

Beat the eggs using an electric mixer; add to the chocolate mixture.

Sift the flour and salt together and into the chocolate mixture. Add the walnuts and stir in well. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top. Cover the pan with foil and let set for 5 minutes. Remove the foil and spread the melted chips over the brownies. Cool before cutting into squares.

YUMMY CHOCOLATE POUND CAKE
1 cup boiling water
2 squares (1-oz each)unsweetened chocolate, cut up
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1 3/4 cups light brown sugar, firmly packed
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup dairy sour cream
powdered sugar for garnish

In a small bowl, pour the boiling water over the chocolate and let stand for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Grease well and flour a 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan; set aside.

Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt together into a small bowl.

In a large mixing bowl, let butter stand at room temperature until softened. With mixer on high speed, beat butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low and beat in the flour mixture by fourths, with the sour cream by thirds, beginning and ending with the flour. Beat in the cooled chocolate mixture just until combined. Pour into the prepared loaf pan.

Bake at 325 degrees for 60 to 70 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Transfer from the pan to the rack and cool completely. Sprinkle with powdered sugar for garnish.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's dessert recipes visit her blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com
For her diabetic dessert recipes and information visit her at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com

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The Chocolate Connection

Elixir Of The Gods

I'm connected.

Chocolate has been enjoyed for 1000s of years. The first records in history are found from the Olmec people of of southeast Mexico. They lived around 1000 BC. Their word, "kakawa," gave us our word "cacao." Unfortunately, that's all That is know. We don't know how, or even if, the Olmec people actually used chocolate.

The Maya and Aztecs enjoyed it. Prepared as a drink, and possibly alcoholic, They also used it as money. Wouldn't be nice to be able to eat your money. If you had enough of it.

The conquering heroes from Europe took it back to the old world were it was still was sipped as a drink and only royalty and the rich could afford it.

It's some what of a process turning the raw bean into an enjoyable treat we know today. The bean is bitter and has to be fermented, dried and roasted. There are two components, The solids and cocoa butter.

It took some time for chocolate to evolve into what we enjoy today. The first chocolate house opened in England in 1657. A milk chocolate drink was created in 1689 and this became the Cadburry Co. We all love them at Easter, Yes.

Finally a Dutchman came up with a recipe in 1847 that became the chocolate bar we have to day. Oh thank you Mr.Fry.

Do You Like Cranberries?
My Grandmother made this for me when I was small. I have enjoyed it ever since. It's one of my favorite combinations. Cranberry juice and chocolate ice cream. Just scoop the ice cream into a large glass of juice. It's wonderful. Hope you try it!

I indulge in all kind of the stuff. I have my favorite candy bars. Chocolate covered every thing. I really like those jellies. A Bridge mix bag turns me into a magician. It will disappear with no problem.

We have so many choices. Swiss, Dutch, Belgium. Dark, Milk, and White. Variety is the spice of life. I do believe we Americans have some really great chocolate too. There are hundreds of small chocolate companies across the country. These chocolate chiefs have created wonderful candies.

White Chocolate
Did you know White Chocolate isn't chocolate at all? The chocolate solids are missing. Just cocoa butter and sugar. No wonder it never eased my craving.

Chocolate Is Love
The chemists can't quite figure why chocolate releases the same chemical's in the brain as falling in love. The components of chocolate is quite a long list. I have known a few people that are allergic to it and they have my greatest sympathy. Diabetics and gluten sensitive people can have a problem. Thank goodness there are chocolates made just for them.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate
No It's chocolate and peanut butter.

A gentleman in Canada came up with the peanut butter cup the sold the recipe to the American Chocolate Barron. I like the miniature ones. I keep the in the fridge. There great cold and I have little trouble eating the entire bag.

OK, I have to go. I hear some chocolate calling me! Enjoy your chocolate!

Robert Dickens
Owner Find Shop And Buy Here Com Ltd. An Online shopping Mall.
Home base is Mishawaka, In.

We can be reached by e mail at contact@findshopandbuyhere.com

Great chocolates from small chocolate chefs around the world. http://www.findshopandbuyhere.com/chocolate.html

Premium Belgian Chocolate. Known to be one the finest Chocolates in the world. http://www.findshopandbuyhere.com/premiumbelgianchocolate.html

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There Is Much More to Chocolate

I often hear that sweets are bad for me. Sometime a guilty feeling washes over me as I reach for more and more delicious chocolates. As it turns out chocolate is an exception in the world of sweets. Not only is it not bad for health it is great food source with many developing health benefits. It is amazing that the cacao plant can yield such a wonderful healthy delicacy like chocolate. It is a profound illustration of how nature can make something really beautiful from what seems to be nothing. The good news for all chocolate lovers is that chocolate can help keep you healthy. Dark chocolates contain complex chemical nutrients that go way beyond micro nutrients like vitamin C and D. The antioxidants and flavonoids in dark chocolates provide great benefit to the heart. Have you ever wondered why chocolates have the power to calm nerves when you are feeling depressed, angry, frustrated, hopeless, sad, confused and nothing makes sense? Well here is the answer. Dark chocolates are antidepressants. They have been proven to relax people. So the next time you feel depressed reach for a bar of delicious dark chocolate. It is a natural healthy alternative to other chemical anti depressants. Research has shown that chocolate lowers blood pressure and reduces cholesterol levels up to 10%. How can you beat that?

Chocolate can also be considered a stimulant in some applications. This must be one of the reasons why people always say "chocolate is for lovers". It has long been known as the food of love. I have my own proof of this point. Whenever I eat chocolate I always fall in love and feel like I can take on the world. When I feel lazy and laid back I use chocolate to kick start my day. If am feeling tired at work or need some extra energy to help finish an extra task I will always find help in a delicious bar of chocolate. I owe it to myself since chocolate has so many health benefits. The saying "too much of a good thing is bad for you" does not apply to chocolate. We should stop using chocolate to explain our weight problems by saying things like "I am not overweight. I am just chocolate enriched". Chocolate is healthy and it is a fact. Chocolate influences our life in many ways and I am sure there are many other we have yet to explore. For science or pleasure chocolate is always a treasure. It can be used for birthday's graduations and even corporate gift. Chocolate will go with everything. It will bring endless deep delicious healthy delights to anyone that seeks it. There is no question that the future holds more amazing chocolate inventions for humanity. I feel luck to be living in a time when chocolate has become so important to life on earth. There is much more to chocolate than anyone can imagine.

For more chocolate information visit Sharon Karen at Chocolatefly.com

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The Effects Of Chocolate On The Emotions

It is common perception that chocolate is a mood elevator although some people believe that it causes headaches and migraine. Though it is widely accepted that chocolate affects our moods, the research on this is still in a fluid state. Every contention is fiercely debated. We will discuss various ways that chocolate affects our moods and emotions, according to the present set of beliefs.

Chocolate affects us both negatively and positively. Some people, when they are sad or depressed, experience a craving for chocolate. On eating chocolate they report that their mood is elevated and they feel better. This elevation in mood is temporary though and when this effect wears off, they again revert to their previous state of mind.

There are many health benefits that are attributed to chocolates. It is good for the heart. It increases the responsiveness of blood vessels which is useful for preventing heart disease. It also increases glucose tolerance. Chocolate also contains some substances which have an anti oxidant effect. This is helpful in preventing cancer.

Chocolate is reported to cause headache, obesity, rectal itching, heart burn and emotional problems like irritability, confusion, anger and depression.

Chocolate is rich in carbohydrates, which increase the rate with which tryptophan enters the brain. This increases the level of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates moods, creating a good feeling.

The addictive property of chocolate is also well documented. This is evidenced by the fact that some people, when trying to give up alcohol, depend on chocolate to satisfy their cravings. This drug-like property is attributed to caffeine, anandamines, phenylethylamine and magnesium that are present in chocolate. The presence of caffeine and magnesium can contribute to a feeling of craving for chocolate. Ananadmides affect the brain in a similar way to marijuana, though research in this field is still debated.

There are more than 350 chemicals in chocolate. Some of these are believed to cause allergic reactions. Some scientists believe that phenylethylamine and theobromine could cause changes in moods. Phenylethylamine causes blood pressure and blood sugar to rise. It generates a feeling of alertness and contentment thus creating a feeling of well being. But, a short period of emotional high is followed by a period of emotional low. Theobromine is found naturally in cocoa and acts as an anti-depressant, but has been known to be toxic to animals.

Eating chocolate can also give rise to a feeling of anxiety. Phenylethylamine is said to cause dilation of blood vessels in brain causing headaches. Though it is still debatable whether phenylethylamine reaches the brain.

One ounce of chocolate contains 20 mg of caffeine. Researches on the effects of caffeine have reported that caffeine can cause problems in sleep, restlessness, irritability, heartburn and anxiety. Withdrawal from caffeine causes fatigue and headaches.

Tyramine is another amino acid present in chocolate. Though it is not certain whether any significant amount of tyramine reaches the brain, yet it is known that it causes blood vessels to expand and contract causing dull headaches.

Women appear to crave chocolate more than men, including diabetics. Some amongst these women reported that only chocolate and nothing else could satisfy their craving. The presence of magnesium in chocolate can account for the fact that during PMS (Post Menstrual Syndrome) craving for chocolate increases in women, as during this period a deficiency of magnesium may arise.

With all this contradictory information on the effects of chocolate on mood, one has to observe from one's experiences and decide whether chocolate is right for one. But, certainly, large amounts of chocolate will effect us physically or emotionally one way or another.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Chocolates [http://chocolates-guide.com/]

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10 Amazing Facts About Chocolate

Chocolate is made from beans derived from the cacao tree. These beans are very bitter, so the cocoa solids and the cocoa butter has sugar added to it, along with some other ingredients in order to make the chocolate that is available to the general public.

Chocolate is particularly popular at certain times of the year, such as Easter, Valentines Day and Christmas. As such, chocolate shaped gifts are popular. Hearts for Valentines day and cute bunnies at Easter are two high up on the gift selection list. Here are 10 interesting facts about chocolate:

1. Chocolate is lower in caffeine than tea, coffee and coca cola. A one ounce bar of chocolate contains about 6mg of caffeine, whereas a five ounce cup of regular coffee contains over 40mg.

2. Chocolate was regarded as an aphrodisiac by Aztec Indians.

3. Chocolate contains antioxidants which may help prevent cancer and heart disease.

4. Chocolate is the favourite flavour in the United States Of America.

5. The shelf life of a bar of chocolate is approximately one year.

6. In 1842 Cadbury's in England created the worlds first chocolate bar.

7. The Swiss eat the most chocolate. The average person eats 19lbs a year.

8. Chocolate contain theobromine, which is a mild relative of caffeine and magnesium. This chemical is found in some tranquilisers. Because coffee also contains caffeine, it both picks you up and calms you down.

9. It is widely believed that chocolate consumption releases a chemical into your body very similar to what is produced when you are in love.

10. Chocolate manufacturers use 20% of the worlds peanuts and 40% of the worlds almonds.

Chocolate is mildly addictive, but a bar now and again is not going to hurt. With all those great antioxidants it contains, it may even help you live longer. After all, as the saying goes, "A little of what you fancy does you good".

Article by Richard Davies of http://www.chocolateorg.com covering a wide variety of information on chocolate.

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Trade Center

The development of business is fast. Today you will able to sell all products to world market. When you are businessman and you want to promote your products or services to the world market, you must know about some criteria. You products must be unique. What is the meaning of unique? You must have new products and specific. If you sell same products with other company please make sure that your products have specialties. You will able to get world market response if you have different products with other company. You also need to enter Premcrest Fair Trade wholesale. Please open Premcrest.co.uk and you will get information about the trade wholesale.



Premcrest Fair Trade will be followed by lots of companies with various products and services. You must follow it to promote your products and services. The other aspects that will give big influence for your business are your price and your quality. Price will really give big influence to the consumers’ response. You will get big consumers if you offer affordable price for your products and services. You will able to enter world market of you have long experience in selling and trading. Today people look for company that has good track record in world market. They must be reliable and trusted by lots of people.

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The Right Kind of Dark Chocolate Makes Our Brain Secrete Endorphins

Chocolate is made from plants, cacao to be precise, which means it contains many of the health benefits of dark vegetables. These benefits are from flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from aging caused by free radicals, which can cause damage that leads to heart disease.

Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants (nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries). Flavonoids also help release blood pressure through the production of nitric oxide, and balance certain hormones in the body. Now, hormonal balance is crucial to good health because if we overproduce hormones we over burden our liver as well as our bowels and those "used" hormones won't be discharged from our bodies causing several health issues.
Favonoids are compounds found in fruits, vegetables that have diverse beneficial biochemical and antioxidant effects. Plus Dark chocolate is the only food that makes our brain produce endorphins.

Chocolate boosts serotonin - our brain's antidepressant - Chocolate also stimulates the secretion of endorphins, producing a pleasurable sensation Endorphins naturally flood the brain during physical exertion, creating "runners high."

Endorphins are among the brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters, which function to transmit electrical signals within the nervous system. At least 20 types of endorphins have been demonstrated in humans. Endorphins can be found in the pituitary gland, in other parts of the brain, or distributed throughout the nervous system. In addition to decreased feelings of pain, secretion of endorphins leads to feelings of euphoria, modulation of appetite, release of sex hormones, and enhancement of the immune response. With high endorphin levels, we feel less pain and fewer negative effects of stress.

Go figure, you get from chocolate some of the benefits you can only get from drugs, but......... chocolate is legal, healthy and non addictive. Imagine that decadent creamy delicious dark chocolate (packed with antioxidants) melting in your mouth while you get all the health benefits dark veggies give you, only it's a lot more good, fun and very much easier to make your kids eat it.

But, beware! Not all chocolate is created equal:

To obtain all the benefits chocolate has to offer we need the right kind, it has to be at least 70% cold pressed cocoa made with un processed, unalkalized cacao, and natural un processed sweeteners (we want the benefits, not the fat and calories).

So, forget about milk chocolate and never ever eat white chocolate, it is actually not even chocolate, it is just butter with sugars and artificial flavors.

http://www.chocolate-genie.com

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Five Tips For Including Chocolate In Your Daily Diet

When it comes to dark chocolate, sometimes we just can't get more than enough!

It's perfectly fine to add a daily part of chocolate for your diet, and perhaps recommended for health benefits, however there are some things you have to look at just before splurging.

Tip #1: Be Careful With Calories

Dark chocolate is very full of fat and full of calories. It's not recommended to eat a pound of chocolate a day, even though it can feel hard to not overload.

Along with a well-balanced diet, you ought to be looking to add no more than 100 grams (or 3.5 ounces) of dark chocolate per day to maximize the advantages.

One bar of chocolate will normally have around 400 calories. So, if you choose to eat 1 / 2 of that bar, that equates to around 200 calories. Therefore, you need to do something to balance out those 200 extra calories, whether it's giving up something you'd eat, or increasing your physical activity levels to burn off those extra calories.

Tip #2: Don't Inhale It!

With regards to dessert (especially chocolate), I've been known to inhale my way through sight.

Don't do this! Instead, concentrate on tasting the chocolate.

Since chocolate is really an intricate food with over 300 compounds and chemicals hiding in each bite, you need to really slow down and concentrate on enjoying and appreciating the unique flavour.

Professional chocolate tasters (wow, I want that job!) have actually developed a system for tasting chocolate, which include a variety of quality assessments which range from appearance, smell, feel, and taste of each and every delicious piece.

Tip #3: Skip The Milk

I understand that milk chocolate is more creamy and sugary than perhaps 70% cocao chocolate, but trust me, once you dark, you won't want to go back!

Chocolates has so many more antioxidants compared to milk or white chocolate, both of which do not provide any real health benefits. Select a nice chocolates that has 65% of higher cocoa content. My personal favourite is 70 - 75% cocoa. Yum!

Tip #4: Avoid Fillers

Whether it's a nougat, caramel, or nutty centre that's hiding inside your bar of chocolate, you won't exactly be getting the entire many benefits from it when it's been full of plenty of sugary, chemically, trans fat stuff!

Instead, search for pure chocolates with nuts, orange peel, or other flavours. By doing this, you are able to still obtain the pleasure in tasting different flavours if you're not the largest fan of plain, dark chocolate.

However, be sure to avoid anything with caramel, nougat, or other sugary fillers.

Tip #5: Avoid Drinking Milk Together with your Chocolate

Sounds strange, doesn't it? This is a hard one for me.

Although washing your tasty chocolate treats down with a nice, cold glass of milk afterward seems like a good idea, some scientific study has learned that this may actually prevent certain antioxidants from being absorbed because of your body.

Should you really should quench your thirst, try substituting it for any glass of water instead.

Elise is a chocolate lover of all types, looking to educate people on dark chocolate health benefits. If you want to find out more about dark chocolate health benefits, please visit her website and be sure to pick up her free dark chocolate health guide!

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