World Chocolate Day, or just Chocolate Day, is Sunday, July 7, but really isn’t everyday Chocolate Day? Let’s look at the top five questions asked about chocolate if you might be curious too.
Why do we have World Chocolate Day wasn’t one of the questions, but I wondered. Some suggest it might be the anniversary of the introduction of chocolate to Europe in 1550. My opinion, the special days are created to focus on the industry because we have three other special “chocolate” days in addition to Sunday’s Chocolate Day. There are two, yes two, National Chocolate Days on October 28 and December 28. We also can celebrate another World Chocolate Day called International Chocolate Day on September 13. We have variants as well such as National Milk Chocolate Day, National White Chocolate Day and National Cocoa Day.
Top Questions
What can 100% chocolate be used for? Answer: pair with cheese, fruits, nuts, coffee or wine.
What is most chocolate most used for? Answer: cakes, pudding, mousse, brownies and chocolate chip cookies.
Is chocolate a drug or a food? Answer: Chocolate has not been established as an addictive substance, but is the most craved food in North America, documented as constituting almost half of all food cravings.
Is chocolate a healthy food? The best answer of all comes from Johns Hopkins medicine website here.
How do I know I have REAL chocolate? Answer: Real chocolate is made with cocoa butter and some form of cocoa as the main ingredient. The ingredients list may also include chocolate liquor, cocoa powder or natural flavors like vanilla, nuts, spices and fruits. To qualify as chocolate under FDA standards, the product must contain a minimum amount of chocolate liquor. If vegetable fat is used instead of cocoa butter, the ingredients list must state chocolate flavored coating and vegetable oil. This may be why there is National Milk Chocolate, National White Chocolate and National Cocoa Days because those are not “real” chocolate.
Can dogs and cats eat chocolate? Answer: NO for two different reasons. Chocolate is poisonous to dogs mostly because of its theobromine content, which dogs are unable to metabolize effectively. Chocolate contains caffeine and an ingredient called theobromine, both of which are dangerous to cats; in large enough amounts, it can be fatal.
It may not be officially Chocolate Day, but I am headed to have a “fake” brownie, but it will be so good!
All of us have a story and we want to tell yours! Send them to susan@knoxtntoday.com.
