Nothing fits better in the cold season , as a hot drink that warms us from the inside. It should be sweet, just like a hot chocolate . This delicious classics – we also like to call them Hot Chocolate - is a real must on cold days. We meet the sweet temptation in everyday life again and again - whether in liquid form as a drink, as a small cake at the bakery or as a chocolate bar when shopping.
A bittersweet discovery
The cocoa plant , which basic ingredient for our coveted Chocolate is originally from Latin America . Here the plant became part of the local agriculture of the Maya and Olmecs . In 1984, a vessel was found in a Mayan burial site discovered, which dates back to around 750 AD On it you could see a woman pouring a liquid from one vessel into another - this is how the Maya foam of chocolate multiplied, which is known to them as delicious part of the drink. In this pot, a laboratory investigation found Traces of caffeine and theobromine , both of which are components of cocoa.
Evidence of agricultural cultivation of the trees suggests that the local native already about 2,500 years ago use large-scale plantations to protect these relatively sensitive and demanding plants there Our chocolate bars today were, however , foreign to the Americans of that time. Let us imagine for a moment what it would be like if we drank our sweet drink like the natives did back then: Instead of boiling the cocoa beans that had already been processed into chocolate in warm milk, the Maya brewed their ground beans with hot water – remembers but very much to our popular coffee today or not?
This is what the Mayan drink tasted like, which was then known as "Xocolatl" was known, actually similar to our coffee today, tart to bitter in taste , quite different from our sweet drinking chocolate from Hammond's.
cocoa beans were often used by the Maya, similar to other local agricultural products, as offerings to the gods They had such a high value that the bitter beans are even considered currency accepted were and even more valuable were, than gold . It is no wonder that the Maya also gave their drink to "Drink of the Gods" called, right?
The cocoa plants and their beans were only 16th century with the arrival of the Spaniards in Central America and its following global trade with American raw materials. But even with the arrival of the Spanish in the New World, the precious potential of the sweet delicacy was almost lost. Christopher Columbus itself, the beans probably frowned upon That's why we're all the more pleased that other members of the Spanish explorers saw the potential of the beans and paved the way for our modern-day snacking pleasure.
How did our beloved chocolate bar come about?
The Spanish conquerors found the The taste the cocoa bean first inedible , so they simply changed the recipe of the drink. sweetened the Spaniards the still bitter drink with cane sugar , and they enjoyed their chocolate hot instead of cold and added spices from the old world such as cinnamon and anise. The chocolate foam, which was once an important ingredient, was no longer produced. Instead of pouring the chocolate from one container to the next, the Spaniards used a Wooden whisk to whip the chocolate.
This novel and, above all, sweet drink caused a real euphoria in Europe. Cocoa houses offering hot chocolate opened in all big cities . Hot chocolate became a popular drink among the European elite - especially mixed with exotic spices such as chili , cardamom or Cinnamon .
The very first chocolate factory throughout Europe 1728 in English Bristol in operation, at "Fry & Sons" But everything was still produced by hand because there were no machines for chocolate production yet. The Dutch were the ones who made this possible. In the year 1828 became a hydraulic press developed with which one a new type of chocolate powder with a very low fat content was produced. Drinking chocolate could now be mixed much better with water.
"Fry & Sons" But then again, it was the 1847 the novel cocoa powder with Sugar and melted cocoa butter instead of mixing with warm water and thus creating a tough dough into one mold . So now the chocolate bar was born .
Sweet moments on bitter days
We have all experienced it before - Heartache , it feels like our heart is breaking into many pieces that no one can pick up. miracle cure but is able to glue these small parts back together - Chocolate has surely given each of us some comfort at some point, hasn't it?
For example, it was once the best friend who is carrying a huge box chocolate ice cream stood in front of the front door, prepared with tissues and two spoons. All worries were quickly forgotten as you sat laughing on the living room floor, surrounded by tissues and warm blankets and the almost empty chocolate ice cream in the middle.
At that time, for example, there were also Mom and Dad who wanted to cheer you up. You had a bad day at school, or were sometimes sad for no particular reason. What helps better in such a situation than a steaming cup of hot chocolate with Mini marshmallows ? Nothing, because with every sip were the worry less and a pleasant, warm feeling slowly spread among us.
Today it is the Emergency chocolate bar , which is safely hidden away and waiting for us after a hard day cheer up But it can also just as well be a small piece of chocolate which we can then relax after a long day reward yourself . The sweet remedy for sorrow always brings a smile to our faces.
But does chocolate really make us happy?
The fact is that the cocoa in chocolate, for example, tryptophan which is an essential amino acid and cannot be produced by the body. So we have to eat it and it is processed by our body into serotonin, which brightens our mood and thus makes you happy . However, chocolate does not contain more tryptophan than other foods, and the concentration is too low to be a very great impact to unfold. So it is not the ingredients that make us feel happy again. But what else is it?
The Chocolate makes us so happy is actually much more because chocolate makes us positive memories are recalled unconsciously . neural networks in our brain activated , which then sends us positive experiences associated with the consumption of chocolate, So chocolate , for example, can make us happy again even when we are sad.
Sweet moments just for us
Chocolate not only helps against grief, we give away They also like to share our loved ones in the various forms to give them a little bit of joy. chocolate cake For example, a juicy cake, but not too sweet, thanks to the delicious baking bars that has been used in his new creation – a real treat for everyone chocolate fan in the family.
Brownies are also perfect as a small gift or small souvenir. Small pieces, easy to transport, lovely to give as a gift and that heavenly taste! Who can resist this chocolate dream? Chocolate on top of chocolate and you can never get enough of it. Brownies are also great for birthdays, especially when everything has to go a little quicker.
But we must not forget the delicious chocolate chip cookies, a real classic at every family celebration. No matter whether you are young or old, everyone will enjoy them, because who can say no to these tempting cookies with delicious chocolate chips? Chocolate chips are even available in a wide variety of varieties - Chips with white chocolate , with the taste of mint and even vegan chips with coconut blossom sugar . So there really is something for everyone at every celebration!
As we can see, Chocolate is not only delicious , but brings us all again and again step closer – at family celebrations, on birthdays, as a quick dessert or as a sweet gift for friends and acquaintances. Everyone is happy about such a delicious gift , it connects and provides for beautiful moments with our loved ones.
But how healthy is chocolate actually?
Cocoa contains many important minerals such as magnesium, zinc, copper, phosphorus and even twice as much iron like spinach. Chocolate is a real energy booster Thanks to the contained amounts of vegetable fat and sugar, it provides our body with, depending on the ingredients, not insignificant amounts of protein , carbohydrates and fiber , which helps in help digestion .
Cocoa also contains Antioxidants that can help protect cholesterol levels in the blood noticeably reduce and protect the cells – a kind of rejuvenation treatment at the cellular level.
In general, cocoa anti-inflammatory , supports the circulatory and immune systems , the brain function and reduced demonstrably the Blood pressure . This is why, especially in old age, occasionally reaching for a chocolate bar can help with memory lapses - and not just with nostalgia and fond memories.
It should be noted, however, that apart from the energy boost provided by sugar, pretty much all of these health benefits come from cocoa powder content the chocolate and not the cocoa butter .
White chocolate is unfortunately excluded here. In general, it can be said that the darker a chocolate is, i.e. the more cocoa powder it contains compared to other ingredients such as cocoa butter and additives such as milk etc., the healthier she is too.
Fortunately, this value is easy for consumers to identify, as the well-known percentage values advertised for the various flavours refer precisely to this proportion of cocoa powder contained.
Dark chocolate usually contains 50 to 90% Cocoa powder (although there are variants with up to 99%, which are sometimes sold as individual postage stamp-sized tablets), milk chocolate usually only 10 to 30% , but thanks to the milk it contains other important substances such as calcium, which helps us build bones.
Chocolate is for everyone And yes, we really mean everyone. Vegan chocolate will convince everyone who tries it. Even here it does not stop at just one variety, we offer you, for example, five vegan chocolate chip variations in our shop. For all those who like their chocolate with its full taste and without sweetness enjoy the varieties Unsweetened and Extra Dark a must! For our sweet Of course, we have also catered for those with a sweet tooth - with the varieties Santé , Super Cookie Chips and Semi Sweet Here, too, every sweet and vegan dream comes true.
For anyone who has a even healthier variant of the cocoa specialty for yourself, we recommend our cocoa scented candles from Kringle and Country Candle .
➡️ Lava Cake scented candle by Kringle Candle
➡️ Hot Chocolate scented candle by Kringle Candle
➡️ Caramel Chocolate scented candle by Country Candle
➡️ Neapolitan Sundae scented candle by Country Candle
The American Chocolate Dream
We all know him - the American dream . But have you ever heard of the American chocolate dream heard?
What is chocolatey and comes originally - like the most delicious delicacies - out of America ? Right, it's those heavenly chocolate cakes, also brownies But who do we actually have to thank for this invention? There is one but also other urban legend that claims the true origin story of the popular pastry tell .
In one of these stories from one Cook demanded that he chocolate cake should bake, which also in a lunch box Another story told of a librarian who no baking powder at hand and also the baking time her cake incorrectly calculated .
The fact is, however, that there are already 1896 in the Boston Cooking School Cook Book There was a recipe from Fannie Farmer for the little cakes, which were named ´Brownies` wore. 1907 Cookbooks appeared with "Bangor Brownies" which in their recipe particularly lots of eggs and chocolate These brownies were then known as "fudgy" because they still had a mushy consistency on the inside. This is exactly how we know our popular brownies today.
Whether it is a Coincidence , or perhaps a planned masterpiece Unfortunately, nobody can tell us what it was like - but we are all happy that this recipe bake again at any time to be able to.
Are you still looking for a Brownie recipe that Bangor Brownies resembles? Then we have just the right recipe for you to bake!
Ingredients:
- 650 g Extra Dark Chocolate Chips from Guittard
- 250 g butter
- 420 g sugar
- 6 eggs
- 2 tsp Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract from Nielsen-Massey
- 280 g flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 pack of baking powder
Preparation:
First preheat your oven to 180 degrees.
Take 400 g of your chocolate chips and melt them together with the butter - in a water bath or in a microwave, it's up to you. Then let the chocolate mixture cool down.
In the meantime, stir the sugar, eggs and vanilla extract together to form a fluffy mixture. Then slowly stir in the cooled chocolate mixture. Mix the baking powder with the flour and salt and fold in the dry mixture a spoonful at a time. Don't stir the dough for too long, otherwise your brownies will be too tough later.
Now add the remaining chocolate chips to your dough and mix until they are evenly distributed.
Now take your brownie mold to hand, or a deep baking tray and then line it with baking paper. A little tip: If the baking paper keeps slipping, just put a few drops of oil on the form or the tray. Then put your baking paper on top and voila, everything stays in its place.
Then spread your dough evenly in the mold or on the tray. If you don't have enough chocolate at this point, you can sprinkle finely chopped chocolate in the mold or on the tray.
Now put your brownies in the oven on the middle rack for 20-25 minutes. Don't worry, even if your finished brownies have formed a crust, they will still be fudgy on the inside!
The Trip the little one cocoa bean is really admirable , don’t you think? From the cold foam and bitter drink the Maya from the Past she is the long way to a sweet chocolate cake the Present hiked. Your further away but was also not for nothing , because still idolize today we them, just as like the first day
Now you can chocolate dreams in peace enjoy , because you have also truly deserved !
