All about chocolate

Without a doubt, chocolate is one of the world's favorite ingredients. Very few people dislike a rich hot chocolate, a bar of milk chocolate, a piece of dark chocolate, or even a sprinkle of white chocolate. Today we will tell you where it comes from, what it actually contains, and what types exist, plus we share delicious recipes so you can make the most of it. What is chocolate? Chocolate is a mixture of sugar with two derivatives from the cacao tree: cocoa mass and cocoa butter. Once these ingredients are combined, the percentage of each can be adjusted, and other products like milk or nuts can be included. Where does it come from? The word chocolate comes from the Nahuatl word xocolatl, which shows us that it is a product of Mesoamerican origin. Even though we know that Swiss and Italian chocolate are very famous, cacao did not exist anywhere else but in Latin America until the conquest. Types There are variations, but you can usually find chocolate in three versions: Dark chocolate: this is a chocolate that has a higher percentage of pure cacao, hence its bitter taste and dark color. It is the healthiest of all and has the highest number of antioxidants. Milk chocolate: as its name suggests, this type of chocolate occurs when you mix cacao with a larger amount of milk and sugar. It is the classic used for bars, candies, and ice creams. White chocolate: technically, this is not chocolate, as it contains no cocoa solids, just cocoa butter, sugar, and milk. It is the sweetest of the three and extremely energetic. Benefits Chocolate is an antioxidant, so it helps slow down aging. It has also been proven that in moderate amounts, it aids good blood circulation, making it good for the cardiovascular system. Consuming dark chocolate can reduce cholesterol levels. It is said to help prevent memory loss as you age due to its nootropic properties. It is a well-known aphrodisiac that increases the flow of pheromones in the body. Curious facts There is a correlation between the amount of chocolate a country consumes and the number of Nobel prizes they have won. The scientific name of the tree that produces cacao, theobroma cacao, literally translates to food for the gods. The first to consume cacao as a drink were the Mayans, and later the Aztecs used it as currency. Moctezuma drank more than 50 cups of liquid chocolate a day. The largest chocolate brand in the world makes 70 million small kisses a day. Recipes Now that you know everything about chocolate and surely feel like having some, we leave you with some recipes to treat your family:   Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate ganache Super chocolate cake Chocolate soufflé Hot chocolate Raspberry and white chocolate tart