Chocolate

Heaven Sent Chocolate 

If there is one unifying element to a global society, it's a romance with chocolate. Few countries of the world do not have a conveyance for consumers of this heaven sent sweet treat. For some it's almost a gastronomic vice. For others it's a hypnotic trance that overcomes the psyche each time the sweet confection melts on the tongue. There isn't really a way to describe the flavor which only makes it all the more mysterious as a wonderful treat.

Gifts of Chocolates 

Truth be told, men love chocolates just as much as women and children do. That's why they are a sure fire hit as gifts. Few people can pass a chocolatier or candy shop with a window display of rows and rows of this sweet without the burning desire to consume at least one. The wonder of it all is that they can be filled with caramel, fondant, dried fruits and nuts. When holidays, birthdays or anniversaries arrive, chocolate Gifts are the perfect anwer because they delight the eye as well as the palate. Chocolate gifts are always appreciated even when there is no special occasion. Businesses love to give them as good will gifts to valued customers and vendors.

The Eternal Sweet Tooth 

Certain sweet treats fill a mid-afternoon craving for people who need a momentary break from their busy work. The variety of chocolate-based sweets and blended confections are satisfying enough for any sweet tooth and often perk up flagging workers' energy levels.

When stumped for a gift idea, why not give the tasty treat of chocolates? There are many people in the world who don't want to give a plain old gift card as a gift. Often many feel a gift card is a last resort. Instead many want to give something original and perhaps something delicious. Chocolate gifts have been a great gift idea for years. Not only is it versatile with the various different flavors they are often elegantly pre-wrapped. This saves the extra time a person may not have to furnish a gift.

Chocolate is a great gift for any occasion. It can be given during work events, as a get well present, for the Holidays, even for dinner parties. This gift is great for those who are picky because there are a ton of flavors to choose from. If the gift giver is not sure what flavor the person likes they can pick an assortment of flavors to satisfy the person. An extra touch is a small sophisticated booklet some shops provide. This booklet will contain the different flavors that are in each package. Giving the gift of chocolate is also more budget friendly for those who might be looking for ways to save money. Many chocolates are elegantly designed and made making them look pricey when they really aren't.

Giving a gift doesn't mean it has to be difficult or expensive. Chocolate gifts can satisfy even the hardest to buy presents for. Many will appreciate this more that a boring gift card.

Did you know when you bite into a piece of premium chocolate you're actually taking part in a 2000 year old tradition? The human race has been enjoying chocolate for over two centuries. The secret of the cacao tree was first discovered back then in the tropical rain-forests in America. What was first a MesoAmerican delicacy is now a treat enjoyed worldwide in many forms.

Premium chocolate history first started with the ancient natives in Mexico and Central America. Both the Mayans and the Aztecs were known to enjoy chocolate as a beverage. First the Maya grew cacao and made it into a beverage. The Aztecs adopted the practice. Since sugar was not available to either culture, the beverage would be very different from what modern consumers would expect. It was made from grounding up the seeds of the cacao tree and other seasonings. The grounded paste was added to hot water to make what has been described as a spicy and frothy drink.

Drinking cacao was an important part of life for people in both the Mayan and Aztec cultures. It was honored as a special drink for royalty and other prestigious people in the culture. Priests offered cacao seeds in order to honor the Gods and seeds were sometimes used as currency.

When the MesoAmerican natives were conquered, the Spanish conquistadors brought the seeds back home to Spain. The Spanish took the basic recipe for the cacao drink and created new variations, including cinnamon and other spices. The Spanish were the first to sweeten cacao with sugar. The drink was kept secret in Spain for almost 100 years before the rest of Europe caught on. Soon the practice spread like wildfire throughout the continent as high society became fans of premium chocolate drinks.

Similar to in MesoAmerica, chocolate was a sign of importance and power in Europe. Both sugar and cacao were expensive to import and so only those with a lot of resources could afford it. In France, chocolate was limited to only the members of the royal court. Wealthy Europeans created elaborate porcelain and silver serving pieces for their premium chocolate consumption.

In order to keep up with demand, Spain and many other European countries invested in plantations in the new world to grow both cacao and sugar. Cheap and slave labor kept the plantations going and the products were exported over to Europe.

This went on for centuries until mass production made chocolate accessible to more people in the 1800s. During the Industrial Revolution, steam engines helped produce a lot of chocolate cheaply and quickly, which drove down prices. Later on, the cocoa press and conching machine were invented. These allowed manufacturers to make a smooth, creamy and solid chocolate. This is the premium chocolate that modern people are familiar with today.

Premium chocolate production and consumption played a big part in the development of world politics, machinery and royalty throughout the centuries. Just something to think about the next time you take a bite of a premium chocolate treat!

When most people think of health food they don't automatically think of chocolate. But the proof is in the pudding, or the souffle or cake - depending on your preference. Chocolate, no matter what it's form, can actually be considered a health food. Indulging in your favorite premium chocolate treat can bring a variety of unexpected health benefits.

Premium Chocolate for Health - Make the Right Selection

There are a wide variety of wonderful cocoa products for sale out there but if you want to get all of the health benefits, you need to make your selection wisely. While all chocolate has health benefits, dark chocolate is the most beneficial type. Dark chocolate has many more health benefits than milk chocolate and other common types of chocolate. Seek out dark chocolate treats to insure that you're getting the most health-wise.

Benefits of Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate can be great for your heart! Since chocolate derives from plants, it has a lot of the same benefits as a dark vegetables. Flavonoids are important antioxidants that are in many foods, including chocolate! Flavonoids can help curb free radicals, which are harmful chemicals that can increase your likelihood for heart disease. When you eat dark chocolate, you can help reduce the amount of free radicals floating around in your body - which can prevent heart problems down the road.

In addition studies have shown that eating a small amount of dark premium chocolate each day can reduce blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, you can significantly reduce your blood pressure with this simple habit each day.

If that weren't enough, premium chocolate can also offer you lower cholesterol. Dark chocolate specifically has been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol by up to 10 percent. LDL cholesterol is the "bad" type of cholesterol that can significantly impair your health. Reducing it should be your top priority - so that means that chocolate should be on your menu.

The Mood Boosting Benefits of Premium Chocolate

Chocolate is not only heart healthy and great for cholesterol levels but it also has some interesting mood boosting benefits as well.

• Chocolate increases endorphin production, which increases your feelings of pleasure.

• Chocolate contains serotonin, which can act as a natural anti-depressant.

• Theobromine, caffeine and other substances act as stimulants which can have a natural uplifting effect.

So the next time you want to boost your health, reach for a piece of premium chocolate. Healthy eating doesn't get any tastier than this!

Tempering Chocolate to run Smoothly in a Fountain

After catering hundreds of weddings we finally figured out several "tricks" to make the fountain chocolate flow smoothly and look great. These work whether you are using a home type chocolate fountain or a larger commercial fountain in a catering event.

The first thing you must do is have the right type of chocolate. Although in a pinch it's said you can use chocolate chips, they really don't work the best. Chocolate that's made for fountains will have a lower melt temperature and will flow smoothly. In a pinch, I recommend using the chocolate "almond bark" you find at most grocery stores in the baking section. To use this type of chocolate you must add a little more oil than normal, but it will work well and the flavor is pretty good.

Second, how you melt the chocolate is critical so it won't burn. We begin the melting process by using the microwave at 50% power for about 2 minutes. Stop and stir. Repeat for another 2 minutes. We almost never go higher than 50% power. It's just too much for the chocolate. Also, white chocolate tends to burn easier than milk or dark. The chocolate must be completely melted with no lumps before adding it to the machine. Next, a small bit of oil (approx ¼ cup) is added at the end of the melting process.

Third, use a paper towel to apply cooking oil to all the tiers and bowl of the fountain. Just helps with the viscosity of the chocolate flowing over the sides of the machine. Mix the chocolate/oil mixture thoroughly and then pour the entire container into the preheated fountain (fountain must be pre-heated!). Turn the unit on and let it flow for approx. 2 minutes.

Finally, turn the auger off for about one minute, allowing the melted chocolate to settle inside the machine and "burp" out any air. This one trick will make a huge difference! If one burp doesn't do it, burp again. It also helps to make sure your machine's "feet" are level. You may need to adjust one or more feet to get the flow just right after you've done all the above steps.

It almost goes without saying that you should invest in a quality fountain. We've tried several of the retail "home" models, and after a few events, the motors would flat out quit or the auger pins would break. They are designed for occasional (like once a year) use, not for caterers! Even the lower-priced professional models are great for starters, as they are designed for heavier use. If you're using a machine frequently, stainless steel is the way to go.

As not only a chocolate lover, but a person with a huge and I do mean huge sweet tooth, I know what its like to crave sweet chocolate. Nothing takes care of that craving like some smooth and creamy chocolate fudge. This recipe comes from my brother in law who shares my love of chocolate. This is the perfect recipe to make either just for yourself or then for that group of people coming to watch the game or have game night or whatever the occasion might be!

First off here is the list of the ingredients you will need and surprisingly there are not very many.

2 teaspoons of vanilla

1 thirteen ounce jar of marshmallow crème

24 ounces of semi sweet or milk chocolate chocolate chips - most of the time this will be 2 bags

4 ½ cups white sugar

10 ounces ( or 12 ounces for creamier fudge) evaporated milk

2 sticks butter or margarine

After you have measured out or gotten your ingredients ready, you will need to put your vanilla, marshmallow crème in a large mixing bowl and set aside.

Then in a five or six quart saucepan mix together your sugar, evaporated milk and two tablespoons butter or margarine by hand. Put over medium heat and boil until the mixture reaches 233 degrees. You will need to use a candy or digital thermometer to make sure you get it to the right temperature. Make sure you stir it constantly. If you want firmer fudge simply boil longer.

Once it has reached 233 degrees add the remaining butter or margarine and then heat the mixture to a boil again. Once it has boiled again, remove from the heat and pour immediately over the chocolate chips, marshmallow crème, and vanilla in the mixing bowl and mix together well.

After it is well mixed, pour into a 9" x 13" pan. Let it cool and then cut into squares and serve. Make sure you get what you want before your guests come over because there will be none of this yummy fudge left over for you!

Are you one of those people who has had a need for chocolate at a special event, but then found the perfect mold was hard to find. While there was a time in the past this might have been a problem, you will never have to worry about this again.

With the candy making process, you will be able to make your own delicious treats. There should never be a time when you have to compromise the perfect choice you need for your event, when you can get chocolate molds wholesale.

One of the best places to locate these delicious chocolate supplies is to head online. There are a number of different places where you can choose from a number of different chocolate molds.

Since there isn't a brick-and-mortar storefront to run, you can locate cheaper prices that you would in a physical location. In addition to these molds, pots and some of the ingredients you may need for this process can be found here, as well.

Of course, the single most important item you will need is chocolate. Be sure you take the time to look at costs and options and find the perfect selections for you. You might even be able to make some new acquaintances in these shops that can help you with your candy making business.

Once you have all your items and are at home, you can then being making your delicious new chocolates. This will be your starter batch, so be sure you take your time as you make it. You will need to build skills that will improve with the more batches that you do. This will be the best way for you to learn.

Hard candies will be hardest style to attempt, so keep that in the back of your mind. This will take some process, but when you get past the trial and error part, you will be able to fly through making these treats.

As you are creating new chocolates, think about how you can incorporate them into new creations.

You should know that a flat mold will be the simplest method for you to use. This mold will help you to pour your liquid onto them and wait until it hardens.

3D molds are the most complicated, but they do allow you to make a unique option as well, which will have more character than the normal flat mold will. This might be something that you will want to keep in mind.

Once the art of chocolate making has become something you have mastered, you can decide the direction you take it in. You might choose to give gifts to your friends. Or you might want to create a business that allows you to find the best taking chocolates and sell them for a profit. This is of course best started after you have located chocolate molds wholesale and bought them with a minimal initial investment.