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   Chocolate: A Contemporary Confection | 1910—Today Using Chocolate— AROUND THE WORLD, MANY PEOPLE can now EAT chocolate or USE cacao products in COSMETICS OR MEDICINE. The military introduced many people to chocolate. Surprisingly, the armed forces helped spread the love of chocolate worldwide. The trend first began in the late 19th century, when Queen Victoria got her soldiers hooked on chocolate by sending them gifts of this nourishing and delicious candy for Christmas. But the popularity of candy bars really skyrocketed after World War I, when chocolate was part of every United State’s soldier’s rations. By 1930, there were nearly 40,000 different kinds of chocolate.  Although it’s now more affordable, not everyone chooses to eat chocolate.Many Asian cultures have never really developed a taste for the sweet. In fact, the Chinese eat only one bar of chocolate for every 1,000 consumed by the British. And in countries like Ghana and Ivory Coast, people rarely eat chocolate because it is worth more to them as a trade product than as a food. Cacao can be used in cosmetics and medicine, too. For many years, chocolate has been more than a food; it has served as a health and beauty aid, too. Theobromine, a chemical found in chocolate, enlarges blood vessels and is used to treat high blood pressure. In addition, cocoa butter is used in cosmetics and ointments—and even as a coating for pills. Plus, leftover cacao husks make good mulch and cattle feed.  Chocolate is still associated with many religious holidays.Chocolate still plays a part in festive celebrations that are associated with many religious holidays. Most of us expect to eat chocolate in some form near events like Hanukkah, Christmas, and Easter. In Mexico in particular, chocolate is used to make offerings during the Day of the Dead festival, a time for remembering loved ones who have died. Continue to Eating Chocolate |
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