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Chocolate Trivia
But We Love to Eat It Anyway
According to both ancient Aztec and modern European accounts, chocolate is said to be an
aphrodisiac. This, unfortunately, may only be wishful thinking. It is true that chocolate
naturally contains high amounts of phenylethylamine, the chemical stimulant produced in
the brain of a person in love. Scientific studies have shown, however, that simply eating
chocolate does not cause blood levels of this chemical to rise, possibly because most of
the phenylethylamine is metabolized during digestion. Scientists, however, did not include
in their study those people who may actually be in love with chocolate.
He'd Sell His Soul for Some Good Chocolate
As famous as Switzerland is today for making some of the world's finest chocolate, that
has not always been the case. In 1797, for example, the great German poet Goethe (best
known for his Faust) took a trip to Switzerland, but refused to do without his
favorite treat. Not knowing the quality of Swiss chocolate, he packed his very own supply
from Germany.
Who Are the Cocoa Mothers and Do They
Expect a Card on May 12th?
No, they aren't parents who allow their kids too many between-meal snacks.
"Cocoa mothers" are the chocolate world's example of how, in nature,
different species help one another survive. While the cacao tree flourishes
only in the hottest regions of the world, their delicate young plants need
ample shade to protect them. They depend on other trees to provide this
protection; in the cacao-growing trade such trees are called "Cocoa
mothers" and include, among others, the banana tree, the coconut palm, the
lemon tree, and the baobab.
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Is There Chocolate In Outer Space?
These days, there seem to be a lot of man-made things--and some people we may know, for
that matter--in outer space, and chocolate is most definitely one of them. But as far as
we know, travelers--like Goethe in Switzerland--have to bring their own. Chocolate is a
great high-energy food (which is why it accompanied Sir Edmund Hillary on his Mt. Everest
climbing expedition, and is included in American soldiers' ration kits), and has therefore
been sent along on all American and Soviet space flights. As for chocolate of
extraterrestrial origin...well, one imagines that any truly intelligent and advanced form
of life out there must have invented at least a close equivalent to earthly
chocolate.
Getting Mail Is Always Sweet
While everyone knows that chocolate is extremely important in cultural and culinary
history, it is not so well known that it also figured into postal history. In the late
seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, London's regular patrons often had their mail
delivered to their favorite chocolate or coffee houses; this delicious custom was an
early version of the modern day post office box.
This edition of the Flyer Chocolate Letter is published and copyrighted 1990- by Paris
Chocolates, Inc., P.O. Box 1281, Washington, CT 06793, Tel: (800) CANDY BAR.
Flyer Candy Bars, chosen the best in New York City by New York
magazine, have received rave reviews in such media as The Boston Globe, Chef,
Chocolatier, Food & Wine, The New York Times, and WOR Radio, New York.
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