Indulge Your Chocolate Cravings Without Guilt: It's World Chocolate Day!

Just the mention of chocolate is enough to make mouths water. From kids to adults, men to women, chocolate has captured everyone's hearts. It's no wonder that there is a special day dedicated to celebrating the history and popularity of this beloved dessert worldwide.

The lord of desserts; Image Source: UK Healthcare University of Kentucky

Chocolate has the power to elevate sour moods, unveil childhood secrets, uplift spirits, express love to someone special, or appreciate someone’s efforts. It is the perfect sweet weapon capable of conquering any heart. That’s perhaps why chocolate day is celebrated even before Valentine's Day during the month of love. However, the glory of chocolate goes beyond that. Every year on 7 July, chocolate lovers around the globe come together to celebrate World Chocolate Day.

Chocolate is derived from the beans of cocoa plants, which were initially cultivated by ancient South American cultures thousands of years ago. However, it was the Aztecs and the Mayans who became the most recognised developers of cocoa crops. While cocoa beans have been present in the world for centuries, chocolate made its European debut on 7 July 1550. Many historians believe that is why World Chocolate Day is celebrated on this day every year since 2009.

Nevertheless, chocolate had gained popularity long before it received a designated day of global celebration. Brands like Cadbury, known for their Dairy Milk chocolate, have contributed significantly to the increased popularity of chocolates worldwide.

The first love of many sweet tooths; Image Source: Awareness Days

Chocolate has managed to secure a permanent place in people's hearts over the years. Whether in the form of cakes, brownies, pastries, snickers, ice-creams, candies, milkshakes, bread spreads, or even beauty products, chocolate remains a favourite flavour choice for consumers.

Furthermore, chocolate not only tastes heavenly but also offers health benefits. It can help lower blood pressure while also increasing dopamine levels and promoting liver health. However, it's worth noting that many chocolates contain added sugar. As a result, adults in their 30s often prefer to indulge in dark chocolate, which contains less sugar and no milk.

Chocolates come in various shades and flavours,  including white chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, bittersweet chocolate, baking chocolate, and semisweet chocolate, depending on the amount of added sugar and milk. What many people may not know is that chocolate is actually a fermented product. It involves a series of steps such as roasting, fermenting, grinding, and more to yield the final product. In short, making this delicious lord of desserts requires effort, patience, and, of course, love.

Therefore, to celebrate the journey of chocolates, chocolate lovers worldwide participate in World Chocolate Day in various ways, without holding back. They share chocolate treats with friends and family, explore new chocolate delicacies, and learn new recipes to create innovative chocolate dishes, and the ultimate celebration is when chocolate lovers indulge in guilt-free, creamy-sweet delights on 7 July.