International Chocolate Day

The authorship of the celebration of the sweetest day in the calendar belongs to the French It was they who celebrated the chocolate celebration on a grand scale for the first time in 1995 And although they were not the pioneers of “chocolate happiness,” their long-term devoted love for the wonderful confectionery dessert is beyond doubt Thus, back in the 18th century, about 500 establishments were opened in France, the menu of which included exclusively “chocolate items” Then the baton of the holiday was picked up by Europeans and Americans The average annual consumption rate of a US resident is more than 13 kilograms According to one version, the chocolate drink was invented by the Aztecs They consumed huge quantities of it - several cups a day But we owe the large-scale planting of cocoa plantations to the Mexicans However, neither one nor the other thought of adding sugar cane to the drink Enterprising Spaniards began to add cinnamon and nutmeg to it and added sweetness to it They kept their recipe in the strictest confidence for more than 50 years However, smugglers established European channels and transported the miracle drink there It was an unaffordable luxury due to the incredibly high price, so only aristocratic families could taste it By order of Anne of Austria, boxes of cocoa beans were delivered to France, and a virtuoso chocolatier was hired Noble ladies believed that chocolate was a powerful aphrodisiac Madame Pompadour herself called it nothing less than a burning source of love passions In the 16th century, Belgian pharmacists began to brew special medicinal chocolate It included medicinal herbs, oils and flowers The British were the first to produce traditional hard bars in the 1850s, while milk and white chocolate were invented by the Swiss But the price for it was still prohibitively high, and only in the 20th century chocolate became available to wide social circles In the Soviet Union, chocolate was condemned for a long time and was classified as a bourgeois dessert The merchant Abrikosov managed to establish mass production, who came up with chocolate collections with images of famous artists, as well as sweets in funny wrappers, and the legendary chocolate Santa Clauses and hares The first truly popular chocolate bar was “Alenka” Chocolate ingredients promote relaxation and psychological release They provoke the release of endorphins and dramatically improve mood There is an opinion that chocolate slows down the aging process Despite the calorie content, even nutritionists recommend it, albeit in moderation In most countries, the expression “everything is chocolate” means that life is good, everything turned out in the best possible way The taste of chocolate, due to the presence of a strong stimulant, phenamine, evokes an indescribable feeling, identical to falling in love The most unusual is Chicago chocolate There are varieties with the taste of hot pepper, bacon and mushrooms Famous chocolatiers have unique skills - they are able to recognize more than 400 cocoa flavors On Chocolate Day, sales of this delicious dessert increase significantly On the holiday, it is customary to hold festivals, fairs, tastings, master classes, competitions with prizes and treats Factories and confectionery shops organize open days, where they talk about the mysteries of making sweets and demonstrate how a “real miracle” is born from milk, cocoa and berry fillings On this day, grandiose cocoa parties are often held with cascades of sweets, chocolate desserts and fondue Girls are offered chocolate spa wraps, massages and baths Themed parties and chocolate quests are organized for children with the search for treasures in the form of delicious gold coins Another popular format is chocolate body art, when people paint each other with chocolate glaze and then hold a fashion show, where the jury awards models with the most interesting body art In Russia, chocolate museums with locations in Moscow, St Petersburg and Pokrov are becoming platforms for large-scale celebrations In the Vladimir region, a grand opening of the chocolate monument even took place Russians also host chocolate parties, fashion runways featuring chocolate-colored clothing, and “edible displays” featuring chocolate cities—extremely accurate sculptures of people, house models, and vehicles