We love chocolate at our Beach House. To say that we have a sweet tooth is an understatement – this delicious treat ranks high amongst our top summertime snacks. And with Valentine’s Day nearly upon us, it is safe to say that we will be eating more of it than usual!
We celebrated our passion for chocolate at last week’s Taste of Cayman, the island’s premier food and wine festival, where we handed out a thousand boxes of our delicious bonbons. We developed La Bomboneria specifically for the event. It was a big hit and the Anchor & Den stand was one of the most popular places to be – with thousands of foodies sampling our irresistible bonbons as well as one of our signature dishes, Braised Short Rib Gnocchi with Arrabiata Sauce and Homemade Ricotta.
So to commemorate our passion for chocolate (whether it be bonbons, chocolate gelato, or sandwiched between two graham crackers and a marshmallow – we love it in all forms!), we are sharing some fun facts about this delectable sweet. Share the love!
The English chocolate company Cadbury made the world’s first chocolate bar in the world in 1842.
Chocolate manufacturers in the United States use approximately 3.5 million pounds of whole milk daily to make milk chocolate.
The chocolate industry is worth approximately $110 billion per year.
The word “chocolate” comes from the Aztec word “xocoatl,” which referred to the bitter, spicy drink the Aztecs made from cacao beans.
When the Aztec empire ruled most of Mesoamerica, chocolate was still widely consumed, and cacao seeds were a form of currency.
More than two-thirds of the world’s cocoa is grown in Africa, and Côte d’Ivoire alone produces 33% of the world’s supply.
A single chocolate chip can provide enough energy for a person to walk 150 feet.
Apparently chocolate melting in one’s mouth can cause a more intense and longer-lasting pleasure than kissing.
Chocolate milk was invented in Jamaica. Irish botanist Sir Hans Sloane is usually given credit for mixing chocolate with milk when he was in Jamaica in the early 1700s, though it’s likely he wasn’t the first person on the island to do so.
Americans buy more than 58 million pounds of chocolate on Valentine’s Day every year, making up 5% of sales for the entire year.
References:
http://elitedaily.com
http://www.ibtimes.com
http://www.buzzfeed.com
