WHAT IS CHOCOLATE?

Chocolate is a natural product made from the beans of the Cacao tree. The botanical name of the cacao tree Is Theobroma Cacao meaning "the Food of the Gods". Choco-House brings you this divine nectar in the form of Premium chocolates from India.

The Cacao tree thrives only in tropical climates as it needs Intense heat and moisture. Therefore, its cultivation is limited to areas about 20 Degrees north or South of the Equator, Including central and northern South America, central and Western Africa and parts of Southeast Asia.

The Cacao tree begins to bear fruit by its fourth year, In the form of pods. These pods appear on the tree's trunk and have an oval, elongated shape, resembling cucumbers. Inside the pods, nestled amid a whitish pulp, almond shaped Cocoa beans are found. Each pod contains 20 to 50 beans. Each tree produces anywhere between 500 Gms to 2.5 kgs of precious Cocoa beans annually.

Once harvested, the beans are removed from the pods and fermented for 3 to 9 days to remove the bitterness in their flavour. Then they are dried. In the Sun for about a week . The beans are then packed and shipped to the Chocolate manufacturers, where they are first sorted and cleaned. Various types of beans are then blended together according to each manufacturers secret formula.

Next, the beans are roasted at low heat in large cylinders for a few hours. As with coffee beans, it is during this roasting process that the characteristic aroma, flavour and rich, brown colour develop. After roasting, the outer shells of the beans are removed and the beans are broken into small pieces called nibs. These nibs are heated and ground into a fine paste. The resulting mass is known as Cocoa liquor or Cocoa paste.

This Cocoa paste is then blended with Cocoa butter, sugar, milk powder, lecithin, Vanillin, etc. in machines which agitate and aerate the mixture. Thus, Chocolate of smooth texture and well rounded flavour is created.

SCIENTIFIC FACTS ABOUT CHOCOLATE

These days the news about Chocolate is actually surprisingly good. To allow you to eat Chocolates with a clear conscience, here are some scientifically established facts.

Chocolate contains certain essential nutrients, such as proteins, carbohydrates, and fats; minerals such as calcium and iron; and vitamins such as thiamine and riboflavin. When milk, nuts, or fruits are added to Chocolate, it becomes even more nutritionally sound. These CHOCOLATES FROM INDIA ensure that all the above qualities and essentials are preserved to their fullest and packaged as Choco-House, the PREMIUM CHOCOLATES FROM INDIA.

In fact Chocolate consumption, in moderation, can actually be beneficial to one's diet. And here is further proof.

"Chocolate is as good as exercise, Stimulates same muscle response as gym session"
Wayne State University, USA.Times of India - September 16, 2011.

Eat chocolate for a good eyesight- Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals- Times of India-Aug27-2010

Eating Chocolates helps improve math skills- David Kennedy, Director, Nutrition Research Centre, Northumbria University, U.K.- Times of India-April4-2009.

A piece of dark chocolate a day helps keep BP at bay- Dirk Tubert, University Hospital of Cologne, Germany- Times of India- July5- 2007.

Chocolate can stimulate brain- Bryan Raudenbush, Wheeling Jesuit University, West Virginia-Times of India-May26-2006.

Women who eat chocolate regularly have a better sex life- Italian Research-Hindustan Times-10 February-2006.

Flavanols,in chocolate, boost the levels of Nitric Oxide in the blood of smokers and reverse smoking related damage to blood vessels- EFENBE Magazine-February 2006.

Those who ate chocolate regularly had a 36% lower risk of death- Harvard School of Public Health-Express Hotelier and Caterer-September 19-2005.

Dark Chocolate improves healthy blood flow- Charalambos Vlachopoulos, Athens Medical School, Greece- Delhi Times-2 September-2004.

Forget Aspirin, Chocolate's good for your heart too- Dr.Helmut Sies, University of Dusseldorf, Germany-Times of India February 20-2004