Chocolates
Chocolates are arguably the most popular of all candy despite their relatively recent incarnation as a sweet. You can find a near endless variety of chocolate candy adorning the aisles of supermarket and convenience stores. High-end chocolatiers provide chocolate love in the form of gourmet chocolates, such as chocolate truffles, from all over the world and can provide personalized chocolate made for each person’s taste and style. You can find chocolate favors in all sorts of shapes from hearts to coins to CDs.
Originally used as a beverage and ingredient in foods, the cacao plant from which chocolate is derived has been in cultivation for at least three thousand years in Central and South America. Chocolate was served bitter mixed with vanilla or chilies. It was not until the 16th century that explorers brought it back to Europe, where their addiction to sugar prompted them to combine it with chocolate and milk for a taste we know quite well today.
Chocolate comes in dark, milk, or white varieties. In milk chocolate, cacao is mixed with milk solids and sugar, whereas with dark chocolate, the cacao is mixed with fat and sugar instead of the milk. White chocolate is almost identical to milk chocolate with the exception that there are essentially no cocoa solids in white chocolate.
Chocolate candies generally just have a coating or layer of chocolate with most of the candy being taken up by other less expensive ingredients such as nougat, caramel, cookies and nuts.
Chocolate is used in spas as a skin soother and nourisher. Body chocolate applied as paint can lead to all sorts of tasty adventures. Many spas offer chocolate baskets with a variety of gift chocolates combined with spa services to suit the tastes of just about anyone.
In festive seasons, a chocolate gift is a universal favorite, whether it comes in the form of a gourmet chocolate gift, chocolate gift baskets, or other gift chocolates. Gourmet chocolate has even gone “green” and you can now find organic chocolate available at high-end chocolatiers. With all of the many options available, there is a form of chocolate just about anyone can love!