Interesting facts about chocolate

Chocolate in various forms known to mankind since ancient times. It was a ritual drink of the ancient Mexican tribes, exquisite dessert aristocracy, and now it is a favorite treat of millions of people, and its production elevated to the rank of art. The chocolate backgrounds of many unusual facts and puzzles that would be interesting to know.

1. The chocolate you can drink, you can eat and still offer ... and sniff

The chocolate usually comes in two forms: solid and liquid, but the Belgian chocolatiers went ahead and invented chocolate snuff. The powder contains various additives such as mint, ginger, and cayenne pepper. If the taste of conventional chocolate are felt in the mouth for about five minutes, then snuff permanently retains its effect. He instantly elevates mood and is positioned as a tool for parties.

Dubious novelty interested producers from other countries. In America, the company Legal Lean offers a product called Coco Loko, and young people interested in smelling chocolate causes anxiety among doctors and politicians. Doctors do not recommend to sniff any substance without cause, whatever it was. And what is fraught with this use of the body - is unknown, because such studies have not been conducted.

2. Chocolate syrup - the invention is not confectioners

The confectionery business is widely used chocolate syrup, but it is interesting that it came up for other purposes. The first, about the 1800s, cocoa powder mixed with sugar dispensers. In those days, medicines were imperfect and terrible taste. Even adults did not like them to take, and it was difficult to persuade the children. But even the most difficult small patients eagerly took the drug, mixed with chocolate syrup. To increase income, many pharmacists to sell something else, such as a drink or some snacks. So chocolate syrup came in confectionery.

3. Meet on clothes: more beautiful, more delicious

Chocolate products usually have a nice package. Australian scientists have decided to find out whether the design of the box affects the taste of chocolate. The volunteers were asked to rate: packaging design alone, without the taste of the product wrapper and taste delights in a beautiful package. The experiment used the same kind of chocolate. It turned out that in some way the treat we meet "on clothes." Packing an amazing affect on the ratings.

The taste was lower or even disappointed, when chocolate was without a wrapper. Conversely, tasting delicacies in a beautiful package associated with greater emotional response. It turns out that a combination of external aesthetics (packing) and taste of chocolate makes the product more palatable.

4. The taste and color? The pair has a

People see the world in color, and, of course, the colors play an important role in the perception of reality. Scientists have wondered whether the color will also affect the taste of the hot chocolate. Volunteers were offered flavored drink in a cup with white walls inside. But outside only a few cups were white, others were orange, cream, red. The drink was the same in all cases, but all subjects reported that the cups of orange or cream was delicious. It is not clear, but what is the reason, but this fact can be used to fans of hot chocolate. Matched to your liking beautiful cup cream or orange shades will enhance the pleasure of the drink.

5. Secrets of chocolate-flavored

The aroma of chocolate mocks not only the sense of smell lovers of this delicacy, but also the interest of scientists trying to unravel its formula. The cocoa powder is found about 600 odor molecules.

Oddly enough, they smell very different individually. Palette odors includes peaches, honey, cabbage, cucumber and unusual variants such as potato chips, fried meat and even smell of human sweat. Such strange flavors, combined in one bunch, and give a delightful smell of goodies.

The taste of chocolate gives two things - a high percentage of fat and the slow release of the compounds. For this reason, it is necessary to eat slowly, to fully enjoy the taste. If you take a bite and immediately swallowed a piece of tile, the chemical reaction does not have time to occur and most of the flavor is lost.

6. Recipe Mocha frappuccino older than we thought,

A mixture of chocolate, ice, milk, and espresso - a popular summer drink is originally from America. He was fed at the Massachusetts The Coffee Connection coffee shops and after absorption Starbucks network came into her line of products. But it is interesting that even 360 years there was a drink that can be called the forerunner of mocha frapuchchino. His prescription was found in 2013, and the author was Sir Edward Montagu. In those days (1600 years), the chocolate was still not well known, and he was surrounded by strange myths. People feared that the chocolate mixture with ice can cause health problems such as hemorrhoids and damage internal organs. Sir Edward loved preparing such mixtures and their based on snow, salt and chocolate by shaking the flask until thick. He is still too believed that this drink is harmful to internal organs, so in order to avoid the effects of 15 minutes after receiving his drinking hot chocolate.

7. Ivory with chocolate

Commercial elephant tusks is forbidden, but it never stopped smugglers bans. Ivory is highly valued, as is used for the manufacture of luxury items, and carved ornaments. transportation is very bizarre ways, even chocolate have been used by smugglers. So, in 2013, customs officers at Macau raised doubts chocolate load two South Africans. The tiles have been removed and after the chocolate has melted, it was clear that hidden under a layer of glaze ivory.

8. Favorite holidays confectioners: Valentine's Day and Giri Choco

In Russia, has long been known and quite popular with Western holiday - Valentine's Day, when the favorite gifts to flowers and chocolates. In Japan, a festival adapted to the culture of Japan and is called Giri Choco (obligatory chocolates). The tradition arose after the Second World War, when to raise the sales of sweets manufacturers urged the girls to express feelings, giving a chocolate favorite. Over time, February 14th was a holiday in Japan and the men on this day they mass produced sweets. In response, a month later, the so-called "White Day" - March 14, they will present chocolates to women, usually white.