Chocolate Dips

Want to make someone’s mouth water? All you have to do is say “chocolate.”  It’d be terrifically hard to find someone who’s never heard of of this aromatic treat. From the dawn of ancient times  to the husting, bustling present, chocolate has come to take its place as one of the world’s most popular flavors and food ingredients.

Of course, chocolate in isolation is phenomenal, as evidenced by the grand success of Hershey. But it can also be used to make a mind-boggling array of taste treats.

What would Valentine’s day be without chocolate? — pretty dull and boring. Roses are nice and smell pleasant, but not as pleasant as chocolate. It’s no coincidence that chocolate is a staple of nearly every holiday. Christmas and Easter are two obvious dates where people lavish chocolate on friends and lovers by the pound. And of course there’s Halloween. Sure, it might not be a “chocolate holiday,” but it always has its share of trick-or-treaters who are saddened to receive anything else!

The process of chocolate-making starts when the seeds of the cacao tree are first fermented, then dried and roasted. After roasting, the shell of the bean is removed, and the remaining seed is ground. The ground-up seeds are now raw chocolate, a favorite indulgence of vegans and health enthusiasts world-wide. But you’ll find plenty of other uses for this magical elixir. Some people use it directly in their baking; others add water, milk or other liquid to create a chocolate liquor. This doesn’t mean there’s suddenly alcohol in the candy, of course!

A chocolate lover is lucky to have a wealth of delicious ways to enjoy chocolate. Hot chocolate is a big hit when the weather is cold and nasty outside. Chocolate ice cream, made by adding chocolate syrup or liquor to ice cream, is equally popular when the sun is sizzling. And there are a trillion other delectable delights you can make with chocolate: “Death by Chocolate” cakes, cookies bristling with chocolate chips, and gooey brownies, to name a few.

Although at first it was thought that chocolate acted like a natural aphrodisiac, this has never been scientifically proven. But we now know that some of the natural ingredients in chocolate can interact positively with chemicals in the human brain. This interaction releases endorphins, which can help dispel a bad mood and increase your sense of well-being. Studies are still ongoing, but it’s never poor planning to have a sweet snack around if you’re feeling run down.

Here are some famous names in chocolate you’ve doubtless heard of, if not sampled for yourself: Hershey, the cute little bar you’re never far from, and Godiva, which is famous for some outrageously delicious treats (and one white horse). Gertrude Hawk is another quality candy maker found throughout the Northeast, who’s been in business for a very long time. Chocolate has played a central role in our affections and celebrations   since ancient times. Wouldn’t it be hard to imagine life without it?

Emily Ayers writes for Favorideas, a lovely source for chocolate wedding favors and elegant wedding favor boxes to place them in.