Archive for June, 2009

Luxury Chocolates:The perfect Chocolate Gift

Monday, June 29th, 2009

Chocolate can be the perfect luxury gift for any celebration like anyone’s birthday,father day,mother day or valentine day etc.
Chocolate can affect us both mently and physically. The physical element of chocolate specially in dark chocolate holds many a health benefit such as help to reducing cholesterol and heart disease and reduce to case of heart stroke.

The mental element of things is that producing a chocolate gift to any individual will always help make virtually any situation better, there is always a good time to hand somebody a box of chocolates whether it be to say ‘I’m sorry’, ‘congratulations’, ‘thank you’, ‘well done’, ‘good luck’,  even ‘deepest sympathy’. We never disparage the power of chocolate.

There are several Valentine chocolate gifts that are available in the market.Include Chocolate kisses, chocolate heart box, Valentine chocolate card, chocolate fountain, chocolate boxes, chocolate tours and so on. They may come in various flavours and shapes like truffle, milk chocolates, caramels and the list continues. All you have to do is to make someone feel special by these chocolates.

Chocolates as a gift convey different meanings according to occasions. They may be an expression of endearment when you gift it to your mother on mothers day. It conveys greetings for the occasions as Christmas or Easter. Chocolates can also make you fall in love on Valentines day.

Dark Chocolates Empower Your Healthy Living

Monday, June 29th, 2009

Over 2,000 years ago, in ancient period the seeds found in the pods from the cacao tree and were ground to make a spicy, chocolate brew. This concoction is unlike the chocolate we enjoy today because it was bitter and sugar was unidentified to these people. Actually Chocolates melts in your mouth because the melting point of cocoa butter is just below the human’s body temperature! And you considered it was simply delicious.
The significant components in dark chocolate that gives a positive impact to your health.
The antioxidants:
• potential to lower blood pressure
• Improved blood circulation
• Lower levels of heart disease
• Improved function of the cells which line the blood vessels
• The ability to protect the body against the destructive molecules known as free radicals. These free radicals help trigger serious diseases such as heart disease, stroke and even some forms of cancer.
• Improved digestion
The compounds have also been used to treat patients suffering from anemia, kidney stones and poor appetite.
The catechins are three times the number of catechins as green tea, making it a potential blockbuster health food as well as a great treat, are able to boost the immune system and prevent heart disease and other chronic problems.

Interesting Facts about Chocolate

Monday, June 29th, 2009

Chocolate is a product of the cacao bean which is also known as a cocoa bean , grows in pod-like fruits on tropical cacao trees. Ground up and roasted, cacao beans are the natural raw material for the chocolates. Most of the chocolate we consume has its roots in Africa, which generates about 70% of the world’s cacao beans.
Top Cacao Countries:
• The West African country alone produces some 1.4 million tons of beans in a year.
• Ghana, The world’s second largest producer with over 600,000 tons per year.
• Other top countries include Indonesia, Brazil, Ecuador, Togo, Mexico and Papua New Guinea.
• Cacao beans are also grown in other Latin American countries and the Caribbean, but their share of the market is smaller.
A chocolate’s flavor mainly depends on the kinds of cacao beans used to make it. When it comes to flavor, Africa is producing large quantities of good cacao beans but Latin America and the Caribbean are producing beans with distinctive tasting notes. 
There are three major kinds of cacao trees grown throughout the world, each having their own flavor profiles and growth characteristics.
• Forastero: Forastero is the main bulk bean. It has a clean chocolate flavor with low acidity and is valued for its disease resistance and consistent performance.  While Forastero beans don’t have fruity or aromatic flavors found in other beans, the beans dependability makes it a favorite for bulky chocolate producers.
• Criollo: Criollo is a fruity flavor bean grown mainly in Latin America. Its susceptibility to disease and low productivity, however, which means many cacao farmers have traded its rich flavor for hardier plants.
• Trinitario: Trinitario is supposed to combine the best of both- good flavor and hardiness. It gets its name from the island of Trinidad where it was first grown and its flavor notes range from spicy to earthy to fruity to highly acidic.