Chocolate Challenge! [VLOG]

Blind Folded Chocolate Challenge:

For our vlog, we decided to approach the idea of chocolate and how we can interact with our topic creatively and with a bit of spice, the idea of a guessing game to see how many chocolate we can guess, with a total of four different chocolates each. The chocolates ranged from mostly generic Cadbury products to something with a bit more taste and flavour such as the flake and the dreaded turkish delight, the winner was decided on who could guess the most chocolate correct, which happened to be Karen in our group. The unedited version contained us eating over seven different chocolates but was messy and quite extensive almost reaching half an hour, we used a blindfold to aid with the guessing and laid out the chocolates in front of us and placed the camera in a nice angle to show the chocolates and the consumers which happen to be us in the group, overall we spent around ten dollars for the entirety of the chocolate and had an enjoyable and quite learning experience.

Largest Chocolate Factory in the World

The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company, known until April 2005 as the Hershey Foods Corporation and commonly called Hershey's, is the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America and increasingly elsewhere throughout the world. Its headquarters are in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is also home to Hershey's Chocolate World. It was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1894 as the Hershey Chocolate Company, a subsidiary of his Lancaster Caramel Company. Hershey's products are sold in over sixty countries worldwide. In addition, Hershey is a member of the World Cocoa Foundation.

Hershey is one of the oldest chocolate companies in the United States, and an American icon for its chocolate bar. It is one of a group of companies established by Milton Hershey. Other companies include Hershey Trust Company, and Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company, which runs Hersheypark, an amusement park, the Hershey Bears minor professional hockey team, Hersheypark Stadium and the Giant Center.

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Resource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hershey_Company

The side effect of eat too much chocolate

Eating too much chocolate would cause bad effects. Everybody need to keep calm and eat temperate. This belief is not supported by scientific studies.Various studies point not to chocolate, but to the high glycemic nature of certain foods, like sugar, corn syrup, and other simple carbohydrates, as a cause of acne. Chocolate itself has a low glycemic index. Other dietary causes of acne cannot be excluded yet, but more rigorous research is suggested.

Cardiovascular system : The chocolate has the short-term effect of lowering blood pressure, there is no evidence of any long-term cardiovascular health effect. A 2012 review said that cocoa consumption appears to benefit platelet and vascular function.

Cholesterol One-third of the fat in chocolate comes from the monounsaturated fat oleochemicals acid,  another third from the saturated fat stearin acid,  and a third from saturated fat palmitic acid.  However, unlike other saturated fats, stearic acid does not raise levels of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream and has neutral effects on cholesterol.  Stearic acid can be converted to oleic acid in the liver. Consuming relatively large amounts of dark chocolate and cocoa has not been adequately studied to determine if serum LDL cholesterol levels are altered. In one study, small but regular amounts of dark chocolate were associated with a lower risk of a heart attack. 

Rescource: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_effects_of_chocolate
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Why does chocolate make people happy?

Physically,  Think about the last time you ate a piece of chocolate. Did it make you happy? The chances are that it did. Chocolate makes people happy because it tastes good and provides a moment’s respite from busy, and often stressed-out, lives. For some, chocolate is a guilty pleasure, and we are firm believers in the old adage that forbidden fruit is always the most satisfying. Just seeing chocolate, or inhaling its wonderful aroma, has quickened the beat of many a chocolate-lover’s heart.

  Technically, true explanation for why chocolate makes people happy is chemical in nature. There are over 300 naturally-occurring chemicals in chocolate, and some of them can affect the human brain via the release of particular neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are exactly what they sound like; they send signals back and forth between neurons. Certain neurotransmitters can be responsible for your emotions and the way you feel. Eating chocolate releases several neurotransmitters that have positive effects on human feelings (that is, they make people happy). One of these is phenylethlyamine, which causes alertness and a degree of excitement, quickens the pulse rate, and makes you happy. Phenylethylamine is sometimes called “the love drug”, because it arouses feelings similar to those that occur when one is in love. Another neurotransmitter, serotonin, is a mood-lifter, as well. One chemical that causes the release of serotonin into the brain is tryptophan, found in chocolate.

Resources:www.amanochocolate.com/
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The 15 facts of chocolate you didn't know

1. The smell of chocolate increases theta brain waves, which triggers relaxation.

2. White chocolate isn't technically chocolate, as it contains no cocoa solids or cocoa liquor.

3. It takes approximately 400 cacao beans to make one pound about 450g of chocolate.

4. The inventor of the chocolate chip cookie sold the idea to Nestle toll house in return for a lifetime supply of chocolate.

5. M&Ms were created in 1941 as a means for soldiers to enjoy chocolate without it melting.

6. Every second Americans collectively eat 100 pounds of chocolate.

7. The world's largest chocolate bar weighed 5792kg.

8. Chocolate magnate Milton Hershey canceled his reservation for the titanic due to last minute business matters.

9. There are potato chips dipped in milk chocoate.

10. Eating dark chocolate everyday reduces the risk of heart disease by one-third.

11. Chocolate can sicken and even kill dogs.

12. Chocolate has an anti bacterial effect on the mouth and protects against tooth decay.

13. In 2013 Belgium issued a limited edition of chocolate flavored stamps.

14. A lethal dose of chocolate for a human being is about 22 LBs or 40 hershey bars.

15. The average chocolate bar contains 8 insect parts.

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Resources: http://www.factslides.com/s

Famous chocolate brand

The chocolate becomes famous desert in world wide. My favorate chocolate brand is dove. Dove  is a brand of chocolate made and marketed by the Mars company. Dove produces a wide range of chocolate, including milk chocolate, caramel, fruit and nut varieties, truffle and chocolate pieces with a folded milk chocolate center.The name comes from Dove Candies & Ice Cream, which were Chicago sweet shops owned by Leo Stefanos , a Greek-America.In 1956, Stefanos created the Dove brand do ice cream bars, which were only sold locally in Chicago until 1985 when distribution began in selected cities around the country.The Galaxy brand was first launched in the UK in 1960. In 1986, the company was acquired by Mars, Incorporated. In a 2013 advertising campaign Galaxy features a virtual Audrey Hepburn eating a piece of Galaxy chocolate in a 1960s Mediterranean setting.

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Resource: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dove_(chocolate)

Picture: http://www.dovechocolate.com/aboutdove

Chocolate or Art?

We always ask ourselves, can i turn this chocolate bar into a beautiful swan? Or eating the horns of a Milky Chocolate demon?All these things lead to beauty and of course mouth-watering chocolate. The idea of chocolate has been created for many generations with the introduction of different flavored chocolates and new toppings to add but the boundaries of chocolate and its cosmetic appeal have been breached and the idea isn't you just eat chocolate anymore, you eat chocolate and indulge in its taste and appearance chocolate that doesn't require a piece of mind but a piece of thought. Chocolate art is a form is art and a form of chocolate, it manifests itself into something great and something that can truly be amazing, this picture you see is a demon made chocolate statue of milk chocolate its fancy, tasty and looks gorgeous.

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Health Benefits of eating Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is loaded with nutrients that can positively affect your health. Made from the seed of the cocoa tree, it is one of the best sources of antioxidants on the planet. Studies show that dark chocolate (not the sugary crap) can improve health and lower the risk of heart disease.

1. Dark Chocolate is Very Nutritious

If you buy quality dark chocolate with a high cocoa content, then it is actually quite nutritious. It contains a decent amount of soluble fiber and is loaded with minerals.

A 100 gram bar of dark chocolate with 70-85% cocoa contains:

• 11 grams of fiber.
• 67% of the RDA for Iron.
• 58% of the RDA for Magnesium.
• 89% of the RDA for Copper.
• 98% of the RDA for Manganese.
• It also has plenty of potassium, phosphorus, zinc and selenium

2. Dark Chocolate is a Powerful Source of Antioxidants

Dark chocolate is loaded with organic compounds that are biologically active and function as antioxidants. These include polyphenols, flavanols, catechins, among others. One study showed that cocoa and dark chocolate contained more antioxidant activity, polyphenols and flavanols than other fruits they tested, which included blueberries and Acai berries 

3. Dark Chocolate May Improve Blood Flow and Lower Blood Pressure

The flavanols in dark chocolate can stimulate the endothelium, the lining of arteries, to produce Nitric Oxide (NO), which is a gas. One of the functions of NO is to send signals to the arteries to relax, which lowers resistance to blood flow and therefore reduces blood pressure.

4. Dark Chocolate Raises HDL and Protects LDL Against Oxidation

In a controlled trial, cocoa powder was found to significantly decrease oxidized LDL cholesterol in men. It also increased HDL and lowered total LDL in men with elevated cholesterol

5. Dark Chocolate May Lower The Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

In the long term, this should cause much less cholesterol to lodge in the arteries and we should see a lower risk of heart disease over the long term.

6. Dark Chocolate May Protect Your Skin Against The Sun

The bioactive compounds in dark chocolate may also be great for your skin. The flavonols can protect against sun-induced damage, improve blood flow to the skin and increase skin density and hydration.

7. Dark Chocolate May Improve Brain Function

The good news isn’t over yet. Dark chocolate may also improve the function of the brain.
One study of healthy volunteers showed that 5 days of consuming high-flavanol cocoa improved blood flow to the brain.

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Image source: http://www.superfoodlab.com/blog/4waysdarkchocolate/

Cadbury Chocolate: The Great Divide

We have all seen how Cadbury Chocolate are able to mass produce and mass sell a wide range of products to cater to its billions of customers but as seen in the title although Cadbury are seen as the cheap chocolate compared to those such as Ferrero and Tolberone, Cadbury is actually divided and not available to many developing countries. Cadbury chocolate sell many kinds of chocolate such as its wide variety of Dairy Milk chocolate (Caramel, Crunch, Dark, etc.) and its other large chocolates that are still being used today, such as Flake and Boost. Many countries that struggle with the normal human rights and are usually the one manufacturing the Cocoa to the Cadbury factories such as Papua New Guinea actually do not receive Cadbury Chocolate Cocoa the plant itself is poisonous and cannot be consumed until it is heated and its preservatives are added thus creating the chocolate you indulge in today, Cadbury are a giant corporation that unfortunately cater to only the rich and avoid the poor creating an unfair world that would be a better place if it had chocolate.

https://twitter.com/12345Herro/status/598389255363145728

Where does the chocolate come from？

History: 

The main material of chocolate is cocoa which is the seed of cocoa tree. Around 1100 B.C. America oborigines started plant cocoa tree. Cocoa is lightly bitter taste. Maya used to make a kind of drink called "xocolati", which mixed cocoa, chilli, vanilla, etc together. Cocoa was a rare variety, even been used as currency at that time. The First European discovered cocoa was Columbus in 1502, but it was Spanish Cortez who introduce cocoa to Europe in 1519.

Use:

Cocoa is the dried seed of the Cacao tree and is most famous for its part in the manufacture of Chocolate, Cocoa butter and various other delicious dishes and beverages. In addition to its great taste, it has many medicinal benefits such positive cardiovascular effects and may have three times as many antioxidants as green tea. 

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Why come out now when I can’t have you? Damn you Malteser bunny!

cute chocolate design😄😄😄 for Easter 

The maltesers bunny are special design for kids on happy Easter. The original chocolate Maltesers were created by Forrest Mars,  in 1936, and first sold in 1937. They were originally described as "energy balls" . The current Maltesers' slogan is "The lighter way to enjoy chocolate" - earlier slogans have included "The Dri Drink", "The chocolates with the less fattening centre", "No ordinary chocolate" and "Nothing pleases like Maltesers". The Australian version also contains the line: "Made in Australia... ...exported to the world." In the 1930s, advertisements claimed that the Maltesers honeycomb centre is seven times less fattening than ordinary chocolate centres; this led marketers to claim it was beneficial for weight loss.In 2011, the product gained Fairtrade accreditation in the UK and Ireland by sourcing all their cocoa and sugar under Fairtrade Terms.

Maltesers are made in two stages. The inner crunchy part is made by making small pellets of a dough like mixture. This is placed in a low pressure container which forces the bubbles in the mixture to expand, making the pellets larger. The pellets are then coated with chocolate and polished. The details are vague because the company wouldn't give me exact details!

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Is white chocolate chocolate?

Did you know that white chocolate is not chocolate? White chocolate is made from cocoa butter, powdered milk and sugar. Understand why and indulge anyway.

Each chocolate is one way. Because of the recipe, of the quality, type and manufacturer. But they all have the distinctive characteristic flavor of cocoa. In spite of similar consistency, white chocolate is different. It has a few nuances, usually very sweet and does not have such a taste in common. According to experts, it is because white chocolate is not chocolate.

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Image Source: http://pixabay.com/en/photos/chocolate/

How to Make Chocolate?

You can find chocolate everywhere - may it be in cakes, in candles, in beverages. But few people really know how chocolate is made. Even fewer have actually set their eyes on a cocoa bean, much less a cocoa pod.
Some might believe it's hard to make chocolate, but it's the contrary in reality. 

Chocolate manufacture requires six steps:

• Fermentation and drying cocoa
• Roasting the beans
• Cracking and winnowing
• Refining
• Conching
• Tempering

Unfortunately, cocoa pods are very hard to get your hands on. So we'll have to start at the second step, with pre-fermented and dried cocoa beans.

You can watch the Video below as well for further clarity. 

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Image source: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/113885/chocolate
Video source : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUjc6fLnfmM

Different Types of Chocolates

Who doesn’t love chocolate? It’s sweet, tasty, and a major component of many universally loved treats, such as brownies, hot fudge, and the chocolate chip cookie. The only question to ask is what type of chocolate do you prefer. There are mainly 9 types of chocolates, they are Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, White Chocolate, Unsweetened Chocolate, Semisweet Chocolate, Compound Chocolate, Raw Chocolate, Couverture Chocolate and Cocoa Powder.  More info on types of chocolate can be found in Wikipedia.

But do remember that this is only a small portion of the types of chocolates that exist. Each creator of chocolate is able to do something new to make their chocolate different. One can add different flavorings, different amounts of sugar, fruits or nuts, and more. This means that the possibilities for types of chocolate are endless. But one thing unites all types of chocolate: the fact that chocolate is delicious.

So, What is your favourite type of chocolate? Feel free to comment below or cast a vote!

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Image source: http://pixgood.com/images-of-different-types-of-chocolates.html

Introduction

First blog, starting a bit late but should be easy to catch up in terms of blogging goes, first on the agenda is the members that are currently in our group: Karen Song, nice girl very friendly, a happy addition to the team and the second member is Abhishesh Pradhan or Abi for short, nice hair if i may add and a great attitude, the last being me Sam, the greatest of course, the creator of the main topic and group name. Our main topic is chocolate, the gorgeous luscious creation that is chocolate, it's a fun, easy and quite extensive topic that I hope to continue and take you on this journey.

We will be tweeting about our progress so please follow us on Twitter.