Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate

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Another day another food celebration - and today it is the turn of the king.
The most decadent of decadent treats, the ultimate indulgence  - chocolate.
Yes, it is National Chocolate Day.
I think the supermarkets missed a trick with that one.
There were no Happy Chocolate Day cards adorning aisles, below chocolate-decorated banners.
No nauseating arrays of chocolate gift sets, chocolate treats for pets, or his and her’s chocolate selection boxes.
No chocolate shower gel for the wife and chocolate after shave and coco-scented shaving set for him indoors.
I would at the very least have expected Tesco to have had a BOGOF on chocolate-scented candles. But nothing.
Maybe they didn’t know, to be honest I didn’t until this afternoon.
But, I couldn’t let it go without a mention.
I might be repeating myself but I love the stuff.
I adore it in all it’s glorious forms, from luxuriant 85 per cent dark velvety chocolate, to the endorphin-releasing sweet milk stuff.
Melted slowly on the tongue with a hot chocolate palate cleanser, heaven in a silver wrapper.
Ever tried raw cacao beans? 
Slightly sweet and nutty, with a gentle hint of a chocolate as an after thought.
You can get them at health food shops, or Waitrose do them.
Chocolate with chili, a great combination which I imagine found popularity after the release of the film Chocolat. That was certainly the first time I had heard of it.
Chocolate brownies, chocolate with orange and almonds, and one that I hadn’t tried until recently in Australia where is seems to be popular, chocolate with passion fruit.
Sounds strange but actually works really well.
When I was a child chocolate was unfairly vilified.
It was something parents either forbid their children, or allowed tainted with warnings of “not too much you’ll get fat”, “you’ll get spots”, “It will rot your teeth”, or just  “it’s not good for you”.
Total guff.
I admit I am fighting an addiction to sugar, but chocolate is not the enemy in that battle. 
I avoid sickly sweet kiddy candy chocolate as that is loaded with sugar.
It is also high in fat and has  little else going for it.
But good quality dark chocolate is fast becoming the new superfood with experts extolling its benefits.
Far from being the road to ruin, they claim it is good for you:
  • It can control diabetes and blood pressure.
  • It contains anti-oxidants, one of the selling points of fruit and vegetables.
  • It contains magnesium, iron and potassium which can limit the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
  • It contains Phenylethylamine (PEA) which triggers the release of  feel-good endorphins in the brain.

One way to enjoy a chocolate hit without loading up on sugar, fat and nasties is to drink it just as God intended - like the ancient Mayans did in Central America.
Mix a teaspoon of cocoa powder into a paste in a cup with a little hot water.
Top up, add a pinch of chili powder and drink - no sugar, no cream, no fuss just pure chocolate heaven.
Happy National Chocolate Day.

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