Wednesday 5 December 2012

Does Dark Chocolate Lower Blood Pressure?


Dark chocolate has been found to have beneficial effects in reducing blood pressure. High blood pressure, also referred to as hypertension, is very common condition in today's society. In fact, about 76.4 million American adults have been diagnosed with hypertension.

Dark chocolate is believed to help lower blood pressure by a natural ingredient it contains called flavonoids. These are naturally occurring substances that are a type of antioxidant and have various health benefits that have a positive effect on vascular health. These include helping to reduce blood pressure, increase blood flow to the heart and the brain, as well as reducing cholesterol levels in the body.

The main type of flavonoids found in cocoa and chocolate is known as flavenol. These flavonoids are naturally found in the skin of a cocoa bean. Chocolate is classified as 'dark' due to the higher amount of cocoa it contains in the final product. The more cocoa there is in the product, the greater the flavonoid content is. It is in fact the flavonoids that are responsible for giving cocoa and dark chocolate its strong flavor.

On the other hand, when cocoa beans are processed and ingredients are added to chocolate, the calorie and fat content rises, and the level of flavonoids drops. This is because this processing of the chocolate destroys most of the flavonoid content as a result of chemical changes and temperature. That is why milk chocolate, white chocolate and other chocolate varieties do not offer the same health benefits that can be obtained from consuming dark chocolate. Additionally, dark chocolate that has undergone Dutch processing, which involves the cocoa being treated with an alkali that neutralizes the natural acidity of the chocolate, also eliminates some of the beneficial antioxidant content of cocoa.

Flavonoids found in dark chocolate work in two main ways to help lower blood pressure. Firstly, they inhibit platelets from sticking together, which prevents them from forming clots in vessels. Clots have the propensity to block blood vessels and impair the flow of blood through vessels. This contributes to an increase in the pressure inside the vessels. Flavonoids also have the effect of helping to keep the arteries dilated by helping to relax the smooth muscles of the artery walls. Dilated arteries assist with smooth and unobstructed flow of blood through the blood vessels. On the other hand, when arteries are constricted, they tend to block flow, raising the amount of pressure in the arteries.

There have been studies that have shown the effects of dark chocolate in lowering blood pressure. A 2010 study that was undertaken at Adelaide University in Australia revealed that dark chocolate can reduce blood pressure in people who have hypertension, but not in people who have normal blood pressure.

So it can be seen that some people with hypertension can lower their blood pressure by consuming dark chocolate. This is because of the flavonoid content that is retained in dark chocolate. This natural ingredient has antioxidant effects and acts on blood vessels to help reduce blood pressure.

Monday 19 November 2012

Discover Gourmet Valor Chocolate


Gourmet chocolate isn't always easy to find at most grocery stores. Generally there are just a few brands to choose from and those might not be what you want. If you're looking for unique gourmet chocolate, Valor chocolate is a great brand to try out. A lot of people enjoy this brand of chocolate because it's sweet, but not too sweet. It also comes in a lot of different flavors that can satisfy anyone's sweet tooth.

While the unique flavors they offer may draw you in, the quality ingredients they use will keep you. The difference in taste with raw ingredients is something that can keep anyone coming back for more. If you're having a hard time finding this chocolate near you, the website www.valorchocolate.com is a great resource. You can use this site to browse through the chocolate treats they offer. There is even online ordering so you can get all the treats you want without having to leave home. Some of the chocolates they offer include:

Sugar Free

If you have a sweet tooth but can't take all the sugar in chocolate, the sugar-free treats are perfect for you. These are made with real cocoa and a sugar substitute so they are better for your body. The flavors they have include:
  • Sugar free dark chocolate 70%
  • Sugar free dark chocolate 72% with cocoa nibs
  • Sugar free dark chocolate with almonds
  • No added sugar milk chocolate
  • No added sugar milk chocolate with almonds

Specialty Nut Bars

These bars are made with the best nuts that are available so their flavors mix perfectly with the chocolate. The flavors of bars they have include:

  • Dark chocolate with almonds 
  • Dark chocolate with hazelnuts 
  • Milk chocolate with almonds 
  • Milk chocolate with hazelnuts


Premium Bars

The premium bars are all made with smooth chocolate and the best ingredients. They all have creamy textures that make them perfectly balanced. The cocoa that is used comes from Ecuador, Panama and Ghana so it has a true chocolate flavor that can't be beat. Flavors of premium bars available include:

  • Pure milk chocolate 
  • Milk chocolate with wafers 
  • Dark chocolate 70% 
  • Dark chocolate 70% with banana
  • Dark chocolate 70% with forest berries 
  • Dark chocolate 70% with mint
  • Dark chocolate 70% with orange
  • Dark chocolate 70% with toffee

How to Order Online

If you want to order some of this brand of treats online, it just takes a few minutes (if you know what you want). Shipping is available throughout the year and there is always a wide selection of products available to choose from. There are 8.75 ounce bars that can be purchased individually in all flavors. There are also 10 packs available that offer a discount since you are buying more at once. You can easily mix individual bars or buy a package, it just depends on what you want.

There is also a newsletter and mailing list sign-up that you can enter. Signing up for this will mean getting e-mails from the company whenever they have new products, promotions or information about their company. It's free to sign up, so it's well worth doing!

Thursday 15 November 2012

Hotel Chocolat Christmas Wreaths

Christmas is coming, and that means Christmas shopping - that yearly process where you try to figure out what your friends and loved ones would like, while being sure not to get them anything more or less pricey than what they're going to get you, avoiding anything they might already own, and praying that you don't get them the same thing someone else does. In other words, it can be a challenge -- and that's without taking into account those people you know you should buy gifts for but don't necessarily know. In-laws, workmates and the partners of friends all pose additional gift-giving challenges. 

Fortunately, no challenge is too severe to be overcome with the power of chocolate. Chocolate is the go-to gift for all Christmas shoppers who have to get something for a person they don't know well. Unfortunately, ordinary chocolates just don't make for a really special gift. A tin of regular chocolate, while always welcome, is the epitome of the thoughtless, perfunctory gift. A really memorable gift needs something with a little more Christmas spirit. 

Enter Hotel Chocolat Christmas wreaths. These delicious chocolate wreaths come in two flavours and two sizes, making them ideal presents for both individuals and groups. The larger of the two wreath sizes weighs in at a hefty 450g, a little excessive for a gift to an individual (although we can dream, right?) but just right for a gift to a group, since they're designed to be sliced and shared. These larger wreaths are also the ideal size to bring as a contribution to a party or as part of a workplace celebration. Hotel Chocolat recommends them for up to eight people, although a serious chocolate lover might think this figure a little on the high side. 

The smaller wreaths, at 100g, are more manageable -- but still deliciously extravagant -- gifts for individuals or couples. They have all the same ingredients as their larger counterparts at a more modest size. With that modest size comes a more modest price, putting the smaller wreaths under the price limit for most Secret Santa or similar gift exchanges. 

Hotel Chocolat Christmas wreaths are available in milk chocolate and "Purist" (ie dark chocolate) versions. The milk chocolate is still very rich, at 50% cocoa solids. This wreath also contains florentine biscuits, made from nuts, candied fruit and caramel. Tiny cookies add a variety of texture to the smooth, creamy chocolate. The Purist wreath consists of potent 70% dark chocolate, with hazelnuts, almonds and raisins to give a contrast of textures and flavours. 

Both types of wreath contain nuts, so before choosing one as a gift it might just be worthwhile checking to see whether your intended recipient is allergic. Outside of dietary restrictions, though, it's hard to image a person who wouldn't be overjoyed to find one of these indulgent Christmas treats in their stocking or under their tree. Chocolate wreaths from Hotel Chocolat make great gifts for chocolate lovers -- and since that's more or less everyone, that means they simply make great gifts!

A Closer Look At Cacao Prieto Chocolate


Cacao Prieto is known as one of the most important manufacturers of chocolate, liqueur and bon bons from 100% original Dominican cocoa beans. The factory and distillery are based in Brooklyn, New York City. Here you will find detailed information about the chocolate products manufactured by Cacao Prieto, along with a small company history.


A Deeper Insight Into Cacao Prieto And Its Story

Cacao Prieto is located right in the heart of Brooklyn, and what makes this company truly unique is the origin of the cocoa beans - they are organic and they come from a family-owned plantation in the well-known Dominican Republic. As a matter of fact, the cocoa bean supplier is actually the family of the factory owner, Daniel Prieto Preston. His family have been cultivating organic cocoa beans for more than a century. Despite the fact that the company has been around for no more than two years, it has managed to make a name for itself in the organic chocolate industry.
One of the most popular products of this chocolate factory is the bean-to-bar chocolate. As mentioned above, the secret that lies behind the amazing taste of Cacao Prieto products is the organic cocoa, which is vertically integrated throughout the whole process: from collecting the beans at the farm in the Dominican Republic, to the final product.

Products

It must be mentioned that the organic chocolate bars produced by Cacao Prieto are hand crafted in the Brooklyn factory, and they contain more than 70% dark chocolate. Moreover, the factory produces no less than 5 different varieties of fruit and nut combinations, and every chocolate bar contains high-quality, natural and organic ingredients.

Cacao Prieto also provides 12 varieties of bon bons, made from hand made caramel, organic nuts and top-notch liqueur. These bon bons aim to please both your eyes and your taste buds - you can choose from flavours such as cashew and cranberry, pistachio and apricot, spiced rum, orange and bergamot, coconut, almond praline and several more. As a matter of fact, the company even allows you to create the perfect bon bon box: you can choose the desired bon bons to make a unique, sweet gift.
In addition to chocolate bars, Cacao Prieto is also known for producing chocolate-based liqueur and rums: here you can find cacao rum, cacao liqueur or bourbon whiskey. Both the cocoa rum and liqueur have won certain awards at different competitions, like the San Francisco Spirit Competition 2012 or the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2012.

In what regards the chocolate making process, Cacao Prieto uses several state of the art technologies which aim to preserve the quality of the cocoa beans. Taking the Melange as an example, it must be mentioned that this is one of the most important machines in the factory, as it is responsible for refinind the organic cocoa bars into exquisit bon bons and chocolate bars.

To summarize, these are the most popular sweets and drinks produced at the Cacao Prieto in Brooklyn. The origin of the cocoa beans along with the variety of tasty products make the factory stand out from the crowd.

Artisan Blends & Great Taste

For those who have exclusive taste in everything they eat, including chocolate, Amano Chocolate is the place to turn for the flavors you are going to love. With artisan blends, and gourmet taste, you are going to love what you purchase, and you are going to love the extensive selection you have to choose from when you are ready to buy your chocolates on the amanochocolate.com site. With the concept in mind that customers should never have to compromise on the taste of the foods and delicacies they indulge in, Amano Artisan chocolate company was founded for those with exquisite taste and palette.

With a fine selection to choose from, the finest blends, best cocoa used in production, and an extensive product list to choose from, you are never going to be limited in the flavors and the tastes that you love when it comes to your favorite desserts. Whether you want dark, milk, white, or any other unique flavor infused options, you are going to find them here, and you are going to love every taste that you choose when you are ready to purchase. Whether you want one bar, or a variety of blends, you can find all the great tastes you love in one place.

In addition to chocolate, you are also going to find a confectionary line for those who have a sweeter tooth. With various blends and ingredients mixed in, you are going to love everything you purchase, you are going to love all the tastes and flavor infusions, and if you so choose, you are going to have a different blend to try each night, when you purchase from the extensive product selection that you are going to find on the online site. No matter what you want to try, what flavors you love, or what your taste buds are craving, you are going to find them when you turn to https://www.amanochocolate.com/ for all of your chocolate favorites.

From dark or milk, to various great treats, there is a huge product listing for customers to scoure through when they are searching for the tastes they are going to purchase. No matter what great taste you want, or what new and unique blend you want to try out, you can find it online, and you can find the best made chocolate blends when you visit the right site for the purchase you are going to make.

Whether you are buying for yourself, as a gift, or for the entire family to enjoy, there are various great and unique flavor options you will love to try when you visit Amano Artisan Chocolate. So, rather than settle on something that is okay, or only offers a limited selection to you as a customer, you can instead experience exquisite tastes, and finely blended chocolates. When you shop with the best, and when you consider all of the product options that are offered for sale to you, all customers are going to find something they love when the time comes to buy.

Thursday 4 October 2012

The Different Types of Chocolate


Chocolate comes in all shapes, sizes and flavors imaginable. The variety that chocolate naturally comes with makes it easier to understand why it is loved by many, and this also explains why chocolate is so popular among people of all ages.

Most people love chocolate, and some are even obsessed by it. Its distinct and delicious taste is something that you usually can’t taste anywhere else, and it’s also quite easy to blend chocolate into other types of food to make it chocolate-flavored. This means that people are not just restricted to chunks or bars of chocolate. You can have chocolate ice cream, truffles, a chocolate-flavored drink, chocolate-covered pastries, and all of the other delectable and mouth-watering choices. Chocolate can transform any bland food item (desserts) to something amazingly delicious. There are however different types of chocolate that people can sample and enjoy. Here are some of the most common types:

1)   Unsweetened Chocolate Bars
Since chocolate comes from ground cocoa beans, chocolate in its purest form is actually bitter. When you look at it and smell it, it’s pretty much the chocolate that we are so used to, but it’s not really for consumption because it’s too bitter in its pure form. Unsweetened chocolate is used for baking and cooking, and it’s also the most basic ingredient used to create all the other types of chocolate.

2)   Dark Chocolate
Of all the chocolate types, this is the consumable chocolate that has the most health benefits. The cocoa content of dark chocolate can range from 30% (semi-sweet dark chocolate) to something as high as 70-80% (bittersweet chocolate). The extremely dark chocolate bars already have a bittersweet taste, but a lot of people actually prefer it precisely for this reason. Dark chocolate is made of chocolate liquor (the pure form that unsweetened chocolate is made of), cocoa butter, sugar (in varying levels) and the emulsifier lecithin.

3)   Sweet Dark Chocolate
This type of chocolate is still dark because it doesn’t have milk mixed into it. However, the high sugar content makes it a bit sweeter than bittersweet or even semi-sweet dark chocolate, which makes it very delicious for many. Sweet dark chocolate can contain as low as 20% cocoa.

4)   Milk Chocolate
A favorite of many and as the name suggests, this is what happens when dark chocolate is infused with milk. Some chocolate makers use milk solids, while others use condensed milk. Of course milk chocolate also contains the usual ingredients found in dark chocolate – chocolate liquor, cocoa butter and emulsifiers. It’s also easier to mix in a lot of other flavors with milk chocolate.

5)   White Chocolate
This type of chocolate doesn’t really have that distinct chocolate taste because it doesn’t contain cocoa unlike the other chocolate types. The name is derived from the cocoa butter that white chocolate contains, but because it doesn’t contain chocolate liquor, it’s never brown in color, and it doesn’t taste like chocolate. White chocolate contains mostly milk solids.

Thursday 20 September 2012

Types of Cocoa Bean

The threobroma tree also referred to as cocoa tree (cacao tree) is grown in various countries found in the tropics between ten-to-twenty degrees north & south of the equator. The health benefits of dark chocolate containing high cocoa content is undeniable and is supported be numerous scientific studies. Cocoa trees are actually grown in various Countries, but the leading suppliers include Nigeria, Ghana, Ecuador, Brazil, New Guinea, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Dominican Republic. There are various types of cocoa beans but the type that is used mostly by various large-chocolate producers to produce chocolate is Forastero beans which is a high-yielding bean grown in West Africa and Brazil. Criollo & Trinitario beans are actually the lower yielding types which are actually the most expensive.



  1. Forastero
  2. Criollo
  3. Trinitario
  4. Nacional


The name Forastero is a Spanish word which means an outsider or a stranger. This is actually an ordinary daily cocoa which is known for its strong and earthly flavors. Forastero is highly resistant to diseases and it represents approximately 85% of the entire world cocoa production. This cocoa bean is commonly grown in Nigeria, Central America, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brazil, New Guinea Ivory Coast and Ghana.

Criollo is a Spanish word which means "of-local-origin". This is one of the high quality beans which lacks bitterness and is quite aromatic. This cocoa bean is used to create various luxurious chocolates, but rarely alone, because it is quite expensive and scarce (it represent approximately 3% of the globe's cocoa production). Criollo is grown in Mexico, Venezuela, Guetamala, Samoan island, Madagascar, Sri Lanka and Nicaragua.

This cocoa bean type came into existence in 1727, after the near-destruction of the criollo beans in Trinidad by the hurricane. The forester beans from Venezuela were cross-fertilized with the criollo beans to produce Trinitario which represent approximately 12% of the globe's cocoa production. These cocoa beans are commonly grown in the Caribbean, Colombia and Venezuela.

The nacional is quite difficult to grow and is prone to various diseases. This cocoa bean has an excellent aroma. It is grown in South America on the west of the Andes.