CHOCOLATE! Even the sound of chocolate is comforting. Even better, it is now good for you. What better way to let people know you are thinking about them than with a gift of chocolate. It is relatively inexpensive, easily customized with a company logo or text, and the pleasant memory will last long after the chocolate has disappeared.
Chocolate contains antioxidants, flavonoids, and steric acid which contribute to our health. An increase in brain activity, improved circulation by reducing blood pressure, and helping with digestion by inhibiting diarrhea are some of the common benefits. More information is available Wikipedia.
Corporate accounts often use our custom wrappers to advertise and promote their business. It is a very nice reward for their employees, as well. Nothing says Thank You like chocolate.
All kinds of shapes and themes can be made of chocolate, from Casino (poker chips, cigars), to Transportation (trucks, airplanes, etc.), to Sports (footballs, basketballs, tennis balls, soccer balls, etc.) to Champaign Bottles! It's an exciting trip to visit our web site to see all the types of chocolates we offer.
You can keep the coins or small chocolate balls on hand for your daily fix as well! They come in all kinds of flavors and the cigars even come in bubblegum (blue for boys, pink for girls).
Create Chocolate Gift Packages, Promotional and Business Chocolates, Chocolate Cigars for Fun or Baby, Poker Chips, Coins, Sports Foils, Medallion and Coin Chocolates! Delight your Tastebuds, Promote your Business, Throw a Great Party, Gifts for your Friends for All Occasions! If you can imagine it, WE CAN MAKE IT!
George Abbe
Chocolate Expressions, LLC
http://www.chocolateexpressions.us
423 Oak Hill Dr
Lake St Louis, MO 63367
(636) 561-5151
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Abbe
Monday, April 27, 2009
Give the Gift of Chocolate and Good Health
Dark Chocolate - Good For You?
How many people do you know who don't like chocolate? It's safe to say not many, right? Dark chocolate is especially yummy and as it turns out it has health benefits as well. This is especially so with dark pure coco chocolate. It almost seems too good to be true. Most people probably know that chocolate like coffee begins with a bean. Cocoa beans from cocoa trees were first manufactured into chocolate over three millennia ago in tropical South America. It has since become the most popular of all sweets on Earth. With its many varieties and different tastes chocolate is the go to of all candy ever manufactured.
Although darker chocolate is an acquired taste it remains the most popular amongst true cocoa lovers. The production of chocolate is almost synonymous with that of wine. The cocoa is harvested from the cocoa trees and then beat into a pulp. The pulp is then put into containers where it is fermented, much like the grapes used in making wine. After they are fermented the beans are laid out in the sun to dry, usually for 5-7 days. Once dried they are then shipped to a processing plant where the beans are cleaned of impurities and blended with other ingredients depending on what kind of chocolate is to be made.
Different chocolate types go through slightly different processes. Milk chocolate goes through a different process than dark chocolate for instance. Then once the desired taste has been achieved, the chocolate is stored and shipped to its final destination. Darkest chocolate as mentioned before is not only a tasty treat it can be beneficial to different body systems. It has been suggested in medical studies that pure chocolate is particularly good for circulatory health. There have been modest reductions in blood pressure reported by people who regularly ingest dark chocolate products. It has also been shown to reduce bad cholesterol and prevent heart attacks.
One thing to keep in mind if you are interested in the health benefits of dark chocolate is to get the right kind of chocolate. You need to be sure that it is manufactured with no harmful additives that take away from the health benefits. But once you find the right chocolate you will be happy that there is also another great benefit to this type of chocolate. It has been known to be an aphrodisiac! Dessert that is healthy and sexy!
Adeaze was born in China in 1962 but grew up in America where she attended College and University. Since 1999 she has been a nutritionist teaching in England. http://www.worldbusynews.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adaeze_Zheng
Dark Chocolate - A Healthy Snack Option
Chocolate....12 billion people eat chocolate every day. It is considered a treat, a dessert, even a guilty pleasure. But is it really that bad for you? The evidence is coming in daily that disputes that thought. Many studies are finding that dark chocolate can actually be very good for you. That's right, eating the right kind of dark chocolate can have many beneficial effects on your body. The reason for this is because dark chocolate contains a high amount of antioxidants in it. Here are just a few of the health benefits:
- Helps in lowering your blood pressure
- Protects the body from the effects of free radicals
- Contains serotonin which acts as an antidepressant
- Helps in lowering your cholesterol by reducing the amount of LDL cholesterol
There are a few things to keep in mind though when selecting a "healthy" chocolate. Chocolate that is highly processed and alkalinized may contain:
- High amounts of sugar
- High amounts of fat and fillers
- Low amounts of antioxidants
Therefore, knowing what is in the dark chocolate you are eating, and how it is processed is a must, if you want to eat it for the health benefits. It has been shown that heating the chocolate during the processing actually destroys the antioxidants. Hence, you will want to eat chocolate that is cold-pressed when processed. This type of chocolate will retain the highest amounts of antioxidants and be the most beneficial to your body. One such chocolate is Xocai, manufactured by MXI Corp. They disclose that they use a cold-pressed, non-alkalinized process in creating their chocolate. They have also stated that this chocolate is low in fat and made with a complex sugar, rather than highly processed and refined white sugar. Another important thing to consider.
All in all, it is clear that dark chocolate does have health benefits that make it a worthy dessert. Moderation is also the key. Just as in anything you eat, too much of it can outweigh the health benefits so use your best judgment.
To learn about other benefits from the New Healthy Chocolate, visit John's Xocai website or blog.
Author: John Lovell is an avid sportsman and advocate for healthy living.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Lovell
Monday, April 20, 2009
History of Chocolate and Strawberries
The history of chocolate is as delicious, as suspicious and as mysterious as the chocolate itself. Though, no one knows the exact date but researchers believe that chocolate was enjoyed by ancient Maya and Aztec civilizations in Central America. It is believed that in the tropical rainforests of the Americas cacao beans were discovered around 2,000 years ago. A few sources claim that the first recorded use of cocoa beans in written form go back to 1100BC to a settlement of pre-Mayan origins. Some people say cocoa beans were discovered as early as 4000 years back.
However, it is also true that it wasn't used as it is being used nowadays but chocolate beans were used to make several types of spicy and frothy drink or beverage from cacao beans. It is strongly believed that the way we eat chocolate now was evolved after many years. Sources say that it was only an English doctor called Sir Hans Sloane who traveled extensively South America who later focused on cocoa beans as food values and added milk in cocoa beans to develop the chocolate bar. Over the period of time, centuries after centuries, years after years, different types of drinks, cookies and bars were evolved made out of chocolate.
One thing was same-the cocoa beans were considered to be pricey and valuable so they were given as gifts on many special occasions, such as child birth, religious ceremonies and even social rituals. Even in the old barter system, cocoa beans were exchanged for other commodities, such as clothes, ornaments, jade and other ceremonial as well as day to day items/commodities. Even as of today, cocoa beans are one of the most sought after food items that are being used to prepare several food items around the world. There is hardly any country where chocolate is not present in some form or other. That shows the popularity of chocolate amongst young and older, women and men, kids and adults.
Another most sought after food item is strawberry. Let's see a brief introduction about the history of strawberries. Researchers believe that the history of strawberries dates back to around 2200 years back, and they are known to be grown as a wild fruit in Italy around 234 B.C. It is also believed that strawberries were first discovered by Europeans in Virginia when their ships were landed there in 1588. Other undocumentary sources claim that strawberries were enjoyed by early settlers in Massachusetts grown by local American Indians who cultivated this amazing fruit as early as 1643 or even former.
No matter, where this juicy, aromatic and tasty fruit was grown first, but in today's' world you can find strawberry in many different varieties around the world. National agricultural stats show that in the modern America over 25,000 acres of strawberries are planted each year in California. Not only this, but California is the only state that produces the major part of strawberries (over 80%) and supplies not only other states in America but many parts.
Sturat is article marketer and enjoys writing and sharing articles on topics like history of chocolate and history of strawberries. For more information you can visit us.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sturat_Mitchel
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Quality Chocolate
Chocolate is made from cocoa pods grown on the Theobroma cacao tree, a small evergreen native to the tropical regions of South America. It was so highly prized it was called ? God?s food? The secret to the best quality chocolate is in its amount of cocoa solids (a mixture of cocoa mass and cocoa butter).
The cocoa bean develops its aroma during fermentation and gives the beans their familiar chocolate taste. The fruit pulp containing the cocoa beans is poured into a fermenting tub or placed between banana leaves. Fermentation begins at 100 -120°F.
After harvesting the cacao pods (which contain the cacao beans) the pods are crushed and left to ferment and dry for about six days. Then the beans are removed from the pods and left to further dry. Quality chocolate demands this slow drying process.
Some chocolate manufacturers prefer to buy beans; others opt for chocolate mass. The beans are heated to 70 C and pressed to extract the cocoa butter (48-51 percent), which is clarified, becoming yellow and clear. At this stage, lecithin is added to make the mass malleable.
After blending, the cocoa beans are roasted. It is the process of roasting the cocoa beans that brings out the chocolate flavor and aroma (I can tell you from personal experience that this process also produces one of the most lovely aromas my nose has ever smelled).
Next the cocoa beans are shelled, and the pieces of seeds (called nibs) are then ground until a chocolate liquor is produced. Extra cocoa butter is then added (when producing cocoa or sweet ground chocolate it is removed). he extra cocoa butter increases the delicacy of the chocolate, and is largely responsible for its flavor.
First you will discover the differences in colour as different beans produce finished chocolate with varying colours from rich reds and coppers to dark browns. This is not a sign of quality and a common myth that the darker chocolate is somehow a better chocolate is certainly not the case.
A premuim quality 62% cocoa chocolate is crafted from the finest Ghanaian cocoa beans to produce a medium bittersweet chocolate. The largest suppliers are African countries, although the best (Criollo) cocoa beans originate in Ecuador. Forastero beans are flat and mostly used for chocolate drinks, violet-coloured Amelonado is bitter and of superior taste.
Some chocolate is best for eating, and some for cooking. Some types, like couverture chocolate, can be used for baking, eating or coating candies. This is usually considered the highest quality chocolate, and it has a high percentage of cocoa butter, making it smooth and easily tempered.
Flavanol antioxidants occur naturally in some plant-based foods, such as tea, grapes, blueberries, cranberries and cocoa beans. Cocoa beans are the basic ingredient of all chocolate products. Interestingly, it is one of the most concentrated natural sources of flavanol.
Semisweet or Bittersweet - Here, the chocolate liquor has been combined with sweetener, cocoa butter, and often vanilla. This is often known as dark chocolate and contains at least 35% chocolate liquor (or "cocoa"). Most good quality chocolate has around 50-60%.
Couverture is a special kind of chocolate. Couverture chocolate has more cocoa butter than normal chocolate, anywhere from 34% to 39% for a really good brand. This type of high quality chocolate is used as a coating for things like chocolate truffles.
Strictly speaking, chocolate is any product 100% based on cocoa solid and/or cocoa fat. Because it is used in a vast number of by-products, any change in the cost of making it has a huge impact on the industry. Adding ingredients is an aspect of the taste.
please visit our website http://gifts-chocolate.net for further information about chocolate guide and tips
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Novandya_Desmytha
Chocolate Candy Gift Basket - A Great Gift For the Chocolate Lover
There's no better gift for the chocolate lover in your life than a chocolate candy gift basket. It makes a great present for just about any occasion ... a birthday, Valentine's Day, an anniversary, Easter, even Christmas.
So what do you look for in a chocolate candy gift basket?
If the gift is for a close friend or a spouse or a family member and you know the person's tastes ... go with what you know. Even chocolate lovers can have their own personal preferences. So if you know she enjoys a particular type or a particular brand, seek out a collection that you know will satisfy her.
If she enjoys variety, consider chocolate truffles, butter creams and soft centers, dipped fruits, caramels, and gourmet chocolates. These can all be prepared in milk, dark, or white chocolate combinations that are simply irresistible. And if she enjoys a variety of brands, these can include everything from Belcolade to Callebaut, from Ghiradelli to Lindt, from Rocky Mountain to Lake Champlain, from Romanicos to Recchiuti Confections.
You can even find gift baskets for the vegan. Or the sugar free variety for the diabetic.
For a more personal touch ... make your own chocolate candy gift basket. You can pick up a beautiful basket at your local crafts shop for less than a few dollars. Line it with a colorful cloth napkin or two, fill it with a few gourmet chocolates (for instance. Godiva or Lindt or Ghiradelli are all popular brands), add some candy bars, perhaps some mint truffle hot cocoa, Hershey's Kisses, and wrap it all up with a beautiful ribbon and bow. That's all it takes. A few minutes of preparation and your thoughtfulness will be appreciated for a long time to come.
On the professional side, gift baskets are also great for business promotions or to express appreciation to company team members or even the whole office. While a wonderful selection of different chocolates that suit a variety of tastes should be your first and foremost concern, you can even do more. For example, why not take advantage of modern technology and customize some of the chocolates with your business emblem or name? What a powerful way to brand a business while expressing appreciation to those who help build and run the business!
Whether your budget is large or small, your choices are gourmet or everyday and available at your local grocery store, a chocolate candy gift basket is sure to bring a smile to your favorite chocolate lover. In fact, it's hard to go wrong.
Find out more about the chocolate candy gift basket, and more about all your chocolate options at: Chocolate Euphoria
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anna_Sher
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Chocolate Cakes and Muffin Tips
Chocolate cakes
Chocolate is a very popular confectionery thought the world. It has been my favorite food since young. I like to use chocolate as ingredients since I started baking. As chocolate cakes are among the most demanding and tempting pastries available, it is necessary for me to highlight several points when making chocolate cakes. Use only covertures chocolate if possible, because it emits a rich flavor and aroma. The price is much higher than normal cooking chocolate due to the cocoa's fat content.
Chocolate is normally stored in a cool, dry area, but not in the refrigerator. When chocolate is stored in the refrigerator, it absorbs moisture and makes it difficult to melt during baking.There are several ways to melt chocolate. One way is to use a microwave oven. Simply place it in a microwave bowl and let it melt for a few seconds, stirring to melt it evenly. The other way is to place chocolate into a bowl and boil over simmering water. Continue stirring it to dissolve the chocolate.
Keep a close eye on the chocolate cake during baking. As the cake may be dark in color, prick it with a skewer to check whether it is properly baked. If same cake crumbs stick to the skewer, it means the cake is baked. Ultimately, we want the cake to be moist and not dry. Remove the cake from the oven. Leave it in the tin to cool for 5 minute at room temperature before placing it on a wire rack. Decorate the cake after it has completely cooled.
Muffins
Muffins are mostly leavened by baking powder; therefore I suggest using double action baking powder. The muffins will rise higher and have a lighter texture. Muffins usually have a rough texture compared to cakes. Mixing must be done carefully to avoid over-mixing the better. A wooden spatula or hand whisk is recommended for mixing the better.
Baking muffins require high temperature and must be immediately baked. The oven must be preheated for about 15 minutes before baking the muffins or other baked products. Muffins are usually served fresh from the oven and can only be kept for about two to three days. They can be decorated with cream to present an attractive look, especially for children's parties.
For more about free dessert recipe information visit: http://www.freedessertrecipe.com/blog
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_YL_Nyioh
Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate - What Ingredient Contributes?
Recently, there have been some substantial discussions that pertain to the health benefits of dark chocolate. There have been numerous studies that have been done while studying this somewhat bitter and less popular type of chocolate and these have made people sit up and take notice. For centuries, there have been many who would rave about the benefits of chocolate in it and this has constantly and consistently been the case throughout the history of chocolate. What is it about dark chocolate that creates these health benefits and why does milk chocolate not appreciate the very same benefits nor the same respect with regards to this matter? Lets explore this and discuss and detail these supposedly health benefits.
With respect to the main differences between milk and dark chocolate, milk chocolate contains milk or milk type products and dark chocolate does not. Milk chocolate is loaded with mainly fats and less amounts of the active ingredient that is widely promoted in dark chocolate. Dark chocolate, on the other hand, does certainly contain much more cocoa than a milk chocolate bar does and therefore, will have more flavonoids in it. It is these flavonoids that are considered to be the beneficial part of the dark chocolate bar. But, what are flavonoids?
Flavonoids have an active ingredient that is referred to as epicatechin and it is this specific ingredient that is especially good for the heart. Fore, it has been proven that it will decrease the ability of cholesterol to from gathering within many blood vessels. This in turn reduces blood clots from forming within the free flowing blood and therefore blood clots are less likely to form. It is those very same blood clots that harbor and creates the inability of blood to make its way to the heart and subsequently causing a heart attack.
However, more is not necessarily better in this case and by simply eating more dark chocolate does not mean that one is obtaining more of these flavonoids. Therefore, the maximum recommended daily intake of dark chocolate to have and or benefit from these health assurances is one point four ounces. As with anything, more will probably have adverse effects considering that it is laced with many calories and plenty of sugars.
But, by simply eating dark chocolate will not guarantee that one will not have health problems. Fore, one must also eat healthy as well as exercise daily too for this to have any benefits at all. And, considering that chocolate is a plant, this seems to be a good start on the fruits and vegetables that should be consumed daily.
Yes, the health benefits of dark chocolate have been documented quite well and can have some assistance in the benefits of a healthy heart when other measures are also contributed to the cause. Find out more health benefits about dark chocolate at http://darkchocolate.bestreferenceguide.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alicia_McWilliams
Monday, April 6, 2009
Gourmet Foods For Chocolate and Tea lovers
by: Richard Walker
Chocolate and tea lovers know a good quality chocolate or tea when they taste it. Gourmet treats are always a welcome change from the regular varieties found in your average grocery store or worse, convenience store. When you really have sophisticated tastes you need to explore the world of gourmet food.
What is Gourmet Food?
Categorizing what is and what is not a gourmet food is a challenge for some people. Generally speaking, gourmet food is food that is a cut above your average food items. Gourmet food is often considered a special treat, not only because it tends to be more costly, but because it is made to extremely fine standards using the best ingredients. Gourmet food is definitely for those who crave more distinguished tastes. Another feature is that they often take a much longer preparation time than other foods. A lot of care and perfection goes into creating gourmet foods.
Gourmet chocolate and tea are both much higher quality than your average chocolate bar or cup of tea. With chocolate the finest cocoa beans are used. There is a careful measuring of ingredients and most are 100% handmade. Gourmet chocolates can be milk, dark or white chocolate. They may have flavors or fillings that are unique flavors.
Gourmet teas are made with carefully grown and harvested tea leaves. Every step of the process is done with extreme care. Gourmet teas come from all over the world. Where the tea comes from it not what makes it gourmet. They usually have exotic flavors and are much purer than average tea. Gourmet tea can be green, black, oolong or herbal.
Type of Gourmet Foods
Even if you are not particularly into chocolate or tea, there are many gourmet foods that you can try. Gourmet food is just more special than your everyday, ordinary fare. Here are some treats to try if your taste buds ache for something more.
If you want something different to drink then you can try gourmet coffee. Blends of gourmet coffee come from the highest quality of beans from all over the world.
If fish is your thing then try gourmet seafood. They are prepared with special methods. Only the highest quality fish are used. Almost any wish can be gourmet when it is handled and prepared the right way.
There are also gourmet meats. Gourmet meat is becoming quite popular. High quality cuts are used and many styles are available. Gourmet meat can include dried and cured cuts, too.
Get great Foods
Gourmet foods are not as difficult to find as you may think. The internet provides the perfect opportunity to order gourmet food. Shipping techniques used today make it possible to ship any food item without losing quality. You can get food fast that maintains its gourmet quality.
Whether you are into chocolate and tea or you want to try out other gourmet foods, you are in for an amazing treat. Your taste buds will be very grateful to you for providing them with mature and mind blowing tastes that you get from gourmet food.
Copyright (c) 2009 Richard Walker
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Adolescent and Brown
Topic: Biology, Blogroll, General Knowledge, Body We
Many of the brother-sister avoid the chocolate. I can be sure that. Perhaps he will cause brown blotch and obesity. Really so?
Approximately correct if so, why do I? Because there are certain materials that cause brown is not it? So, go ahead we kihat womb chocolate! :)
academia-barilla-gourmet-chocolate-brown mousse.jpgStudi about this has been raised. 1950, the experts to study the skin to compare the results from young people who were given a candy-like brown, with the teenagers who were given chocolate beneran. The result? Photographer can show differences in growth whelk tuh:) Indeed, it says that some doctors who jerawatnya arise after eating a certain food, you should avoid the food in question. Because of the possibility of food allergies are caused. But experts said that chocolate allergy rarely the cause of the allergic food.
If we see from the abortion, some may believe in the results of research by experts who found that chocolate can lower high blood pressure, melt flow of blood, and make healthy heart. How can? A compound derived from the cacao bean to be able to help the body process the nitrate oxide (NO), a compound that the body is needed to maintain health of blood flow and blood pressure.
Research also indicates that the flavonoid in chocolate is able to prevent a substance meyerupai fat in the blood flow to the oxidation that causes vessel constriction and preventing the flow of arterial blood. Flavonoid compound itself is in the plants that have potential as antioxidants, the chemical compound that can reduce the oxidation reaction in a substrate-specific.
