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

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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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/

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