Chocolate Squirrel

With Valentine’s Day coming, have you decided what to get your loved one? Don’t worry if you haven’t thought of anything yet, because something simple that everyone loves is chocolates! The great thing about Valentine’s chocolates is that you get so many different options and each type is a special gift all on its own, so you don’t have to feel like this kind of present is an after-thought. From heart shaped chocolates with delicate and colorful swirls, to love-bird shaped chocolates, choc licks, and even playing card shaped chocolates. You will find these and much more at Hotel Chocolat. Their Valentine’s range offers top sweet gift ideas as well as champagne and romantic gift packs. With these diverse and delicious choices, you will really win your loved one’s heart!

Yummy Centers

Aside from the beautiful designs, these chocolates also offer exceptional quality chocolate and fillings. Some of the scrumptious fillings include decadent caramel, praline, chili, soft dark mousse chocolate, lemon berry, and special pink champagne truffles to name a few. With the wide range, Hotel Chocolat gives you the ultimate Valentine’s present for anyone, whether you are a new couple, or have been together for many years. Or perhaps you want to tell that special person in your life how much they mean to you, these amazing, very unique chocolates are the ideal way to do it.

Traditional Valentines

If you are the traditional type of person, you can get the normal heart box of chocolates, but with a slight twist. Hotel Chocolate’s, Sealed with a Kiss is one of the best choices, as each heart or lips shaped chocolate is glamorously decorated with pink and yellow, boasting heart patterns, circles, swirls and many other elements that will really impress your sweetheart.

Fun Valentines

For a fun-filled Valentine’s gift, the You Smoothie is a great option. This sweet sensation consists of a strawberry and milk chocolate slab topped with popping candy and hearts. Another fun Valentines gift from Hotel Chocolat is the Passion Meringue Pie which consists of a delectable fruit flavoured ganache which is enveloped in both dark and white chocolate and then topped with meringue pieces.

Romantic Valentines

For the most romantic chocolates around, the Hotel Chocolat collection boasts lovebird shaped milk chocolates, but perhaps the most romantic is the Love Notes box which contains 12 different chocolates each with a divine filling. What is special about this box is that you reveal a hidden, very romantic love note as you eat each of the chocolates.

Little Extras

Of course, if you have already sorted out a Valentine’s gift, not to worry, you can always find the perfect little extra gift just to finish it off. Think about a small chocolate that would work as an add-on to a gift. For instance, the Strawberry Heart Lick, any of the Love Me Do heart 6’s which can be in Lemon Berry Tart, Dark Mousse, Salted Praline, Caramel Praline, or stunning Champagne Bellini.


So, whatever kind of sweet treats you and your partner enjoy, it is highly advisable to check out the other awesome Hotel Chocolat gifts, for a great Valentine’s Day.

Started back in 2006 by Dom Ramsey, Chocablog is a blog that is dedicated to the amazing world of chocolate. For almost 7 years, Dom Ramsey and a team of skilled writers from countries like UK, Canada or the USA have posted objective chocolate reviews, chocolate recipes and various news from all over the world. The blog is committed to providing unbiased, fast and reliable information about chocolate, along with the latest news in the field. In this Chocablog review you will find out more about the website, along with the reviews, recipes, features and other news published here.

The Reviews

In the “Reviews” section of the blog, you can find a wide range of clear, concise and unbiased reviews of various products and services related to chocolate, from special Valentines collections to chocolate truffles, brownies and various other seasonal specialties. These reviews come in handy as they can help the visitors make an opinion about the products before purchasing anything.

Recipes

In this section you can find a variety of recipes for chocolate goodies, like cakes, desserts, ice creams, drinks and such. Here you can find out how to prepare chocolate cupcakes, chocolate Tiramisu, pudding and even chocolate pizza! The “Recipes” section has tens of recipes and you will certainly find one to meet your needs.

Features

The “Features” section is quite a complex one, as visitors can find here a variety of articles and pieces of information about the most important chocolate shows in the world, the tastiest type of chocolate, factories and such. Here you will find videos, factory tours, interviews along with a wide range of information about the latest chocolate festivals, shows and various tasting events.

Videos

The “Video” section is perhaps the most interactive ones, as visitors can see the whole process of chocolate making - in addition, Chocablog also contains interviews from various festivals all over the world, including the popular Salon du Chocolat show in Paris. In other words, the visitors of Chocablog can get a deeper insight into the universe of chocolate and find out more about it, from how it’s made to what it’s like to work in a chocolate factory.

News

Chocolate news are quite common these days - from the latest iPhone applications related to chocolate to various guides and commercials, you can find it all in the “News” section of Chocablog. If you are passionate about this tasty treat, then you must be up-to-date with everything that’s related to it!

Events

This section aims to inform the visitors about the upcoming chocolate events and provide key information about these shows. Moreover, visitors can register as writers and add information about chocolate salons and bake shows.

The Shop

Last, but not least, the “Shop” section also plays a pivotal role on Chocoblog, as visitors can purchase various chocolate specialties here. If the previous sections made you hungry for some chocolate, then here you can find all types of it, from milk chocolate salted caramels and After Eight to chocolate ice-cream, dark chocolate with extra mint and many other delicious treats.

One of the best parts of the run-up to Christmas is decorating the tree. Every year, we get in a new tree — or drag out the old one, for those of us who use artificial trees — and spend an afternoon or evening hanging up lights and baubles. We blow the dust off boxes of decorations, call up memories of previous Christmases, and sometimes struggle to get that star, angel or other tree-topper balanced just right. This process can sometimes involve rubber bands, and occasionally inappropriate language. It isn’t always easy, as anyone who’s ever tried to untangle two strings of Christmas lights knows, but at the end we’re rewarded with a warmly-lit centrepiece for our families’ Christmas celebrations. What could be better?

What about a warmly-lit centrepiece for our families’ Christmas celebrations and chocolate?

Let’s face it: Christmas ornaments are not terribly exciting. They’re beautiful. They reflect the lights of the tree, adding colour and vibrancy. Other than that, though, they don’t do very much. It would be nice to have ornaments play a greater role in entertaining, considering the level of effort many of us go to with them. It would be nice if Christmas guests not only admired our trees, but actually got to interact with them in some way.

This is where Hotel Chocolat Christmas Tree Decorations come in. Each of these icicle decorations contains an assortment of four milk and dark chocolate ganaches; the container itself is decorated with minimalist Christmas scenes. The decorations come in gold, silver, blue, and white, ensuring that you can find a colour that matches your existing decorations. Gold and silver go well with traditional warm colour schemes, while blue and white fit into white-dominated winter colours. These decorations hang from the branches of your tree by a simple white ribbon.

Hotel Chocolat ornaments make great decorations for events from company Christmas parties to celebrations at home. Hosts can combine decorations and party favours in a fun and interesting way by asking guests to take an ornament when they leave. At home, kids will be equally pleased and tormented by the sight of chocolate treats they’ll have to wait until Christmas morning to open. They also make terrific small pre-Christmas gifts; recipients get not only delicious luxury chocolates but a new addition to their Christmas tree. For small gifts to multiple people such as workmates, the discount for buying three or more ornaments is very welcome.

A word of warning, though: pet owners will already be well aware that dogs and cats love to play with Christmas baubles. They love to play with edible Christmas baubles even more, so if you have pets it might be advisable to keep these decorations on higher branches. Mind you, when your decorations are filled with Hotel Chocolat goodies, pets might not be the greatest threat to their survival. If those icicles turn up empty on Christmas morning, members of your family might be more likely suspects. After all, they’re only human.

The more that comes to light about chocolate, the more it can be appreciated for all that it has to offer. It isn’t just about looking great and tasting so delightful. It’s about so much more.

1. Chocolate Can Be Stored For Years 

While milk chocolate will preserve nicely in a cool, dry pantry for approximately six months, dark chocolate can last for several years under the same conditions. Extend the life even more by keeping it in the refrigerator or freezer. Just be sure to place it in an air-tight container so it doesn’t absorb odors from other foods.

2. Chocolate Blooms Will Melt Away

Chocolate that has been stored improperly or for an extended time can develop white or greyish clouds on the surface. Don’t throw it out! There is nothing wrong with it; it’s simply a sign that the cocoa butter fats have risen to the surface. Blooming does not alter the flavor. Blooms will completely disappear when the chocolate is melted.

3. There Are Non-Melting Chocolates

In the 1940s, Hershey issued the first non-melting chocolates to the mlitary. The long shelf life, energy value and light weight made chocolates a perfect addition to MREs (Meals Ready to Eat). Known as Field Ration ‘D’, improvements to the formula since the Gulf War have led to chocolate bars that can remain solid even at desert temperatures.

4. The World’s Most Expensive Chocolate

One small chocolate is full of richness of another kind. Fritz Knipschildt, a chocolatier in Connecticut, created a truffle-based, labor intensive chocolate morsel he dubbed ‘Madeleine’. Madeleine comes with a card describing the creation process. Each card has a serial number for that single piece of chocolate. It’s only $250!

5. A Chocolate Bra

In 2002, an edible chocolate bra was created by Reinlinde Trumme, an Austrian designer. Similar to the chocolates issued for the military, Trumme’s chocolate formula has a higher melting point. Each creation takes about two weeks to produce. 

6. A Celebration of Chocolate

An Annual Chocolate Show held in New York City every November celebrates chocolate of every variety and form. Sculptures, edible fashions, accessories and more are a feast for the eyes and the palate. It’s a great place to meet chocolatiers from around the world.

7. Dark Chocolate Is Good For Your Teeth

A compound in dark chocolate helps fight tooth decay while working to keep teeth whiter. Theobromine makes the teeth more stain resistant by hardening the enamel. The stronger enamel provides a tougher defense against the onset of cavities. For the best protection, select the darkest chocolate.

8. Chocolate As A Cough Suppressant

Theobromine will be the future substitute for codeine in some cough suppressants. The compound interferes with the activity of the cough-inducing vagus nerve in the brain. Pharmaceutical companies are currently testing formulas.

9. Mayan Cocoa Mixed With Love And Marriage

Early Mayan wedding couples shared a cocoa beverage as a ritualistic part of their ceremony. The concoction’s other ingredients included vanilla, spices and water. Although similar to today’s cocoa drink recipes, the Mayans used a pinch of black pepper in place of a pinch of salt. 

10. Chocolate Led To The Invention of The Microwave

After the Second World War, engineers looked to microwaves for a way to build better radar detection systems. Percy Spencer, a scientist, walked into a testing lab with a candy bar in his pocket. It melted and led to experimenting with the cooking of popcorn, eggs, etc.. 

Beyond what’s already known about chocolate

When it comes to Christmas, you deserve the very best. And so does your family. So, this festive season, check in to the Hotel Chocolat for a mind-boggling cornucopia of chocolate treats that turn the phrase “taste sensation” into the understatement of the year.

For the past twelve months, the chocolatiers from Hotel Chocolat have been designing and producing the highest quality chocolate delights to brighten up the nation’s Christmas. Using only the best ingredients, and with an eye for detail and fun, they have come up with a range like never before. Whether old or young, male or female, there’s something for everybody; quality chocolate presented in quality wrapping. It´s a gift that says you care, a gift that says, “You’re special”, a gift that says, “I love you”. 

Christmas is for children, so pop a couple of chocolaty surprises into the Santa stocking. Dasher The Reindeer may not have a shiny nose, but this little milk chocolate figurine more than makes up for that with its super-smooth texture and taste. And they’re just going to squeal with delight when they see the next offering. “You can’t catch me, I’m the gingerbread man!” Not so fast, matey! Twelve replicas of the cheeky little fellas, all made from milk chocolate infused with gingerbread spices, are raring to go in a cute little presentation box. But be quick!

Christmas is also for lovers, so place a box of Alternative Chocolate Mince Pies on his pillow. Cups of sumptuous milk chocolate overflowing with praline and salted caramel make this a six-pack with a real difference. And for her, the beautifully packaged Dark Chocolate Chilli Penguins will certainly turn up the heat and add some spice to the occasion.

But the grandmasters at Hotel Chocolat haven’t just been working on beautiful gifts. They’ve also been busy thinking about your Christmas lunch table, and have conjured up a few magical touches to make the occasion truly memorable and unique. Your guests and family will never have feasted their eyes on a Christmas cracker quite like this one. Leave them open-mouthed in wonder and awe as they gaze on Hotel Chocolat’s Rather Large Christmas Cracker. At sixty-four centimetres in length, it makes a show-stopping centrepiece for any table. And when opened up to reveal twelve party hats and jokes, as well as forty chocolates, the joyful whoops and shrieks will ring out like the bells on New Year’s Eve.

But you don’t have to wait until December 25th to indulge yourself in a bit of Yuletide cheer, as the Hotel Chocolat brings you tasteful, in more ways than one, Advent calendars. Available in milk, dark or white chocolate, you can take part in the perfect build-up to the big day from December 1st by opening a window every day to reveal a seasonal miniature chocolate figure. Alternatively, there’s the Truffles For Two Advent Calendar, which has two delicious chocolate truffles hiding behind each window; one in milk chocolate and one in dark chocolate. Let the countdown commence!

For Christmas 2012, Hotel Chocolat has surpassed even its own usual high standards. Whatever you choose from the range, it’s guaranteed to thrill both you and the recipient. They’ve checked them all once, they’ve checked them all twice, now go and find out how they’re naughty but nice!

Cacao Atlanta is a chocolate making company which began back in 2004 in a small rented kitchen. Cacao Atlanta now operates from a 3000square foot laboratoire in Inman Park. The company has enjoyed tremendous growth over the last five years. For instance, in 2009, Cacao Atlanta launched their first bean to bar creation which placed the company in the league of top artisan chocolate makers in the world. Apart from making bean-to bar chocolate, Cacao Atlanta also makes other chocolate products which are exclusively made from Cocoa beans. Cacao Atlanta utilises both old world and new world aesthetics to ensure that chocolate eaters are transported to a French apothecary in one bite and then to the charming South in another bite.

Cacao Atlanta products
Cacao Atlanta makes a number of chocolate products i.e. chocolates, chocolate bars and confectionary. The company also has chocolate products appropriate for different occasions/events i.e. holidays, gifts e.t.c.

Chocolates and bars
1. Truffle chocolate collection: The new truffle collection is made using fruits and traditional southern flavours. The collection is also made using local organic cream thus truffle chocolate should be consumed within ten days. The truffle chocolate collection ingredients include; Aztec, lemon, Fig and Balsamic, ginger and laphroaig, coconut caramel, orange marmalade, bourbon espresso, raspberry thyme, cinnamon rum raisin, cayenne pepper, lavender blueberry, passion fruit, pink peppercorn ginger, mint and peanut butter meltaway, cola truffle, 35% milk, strawberry milk, nougat torrone, pecan penuche, gianduja, and pistachio marzipan.

2.Cacao sipping chocolate: Another popular chocolate product produced by Cacao Atlanta is sipping chocolate. The product has many blends of spices and chillies. The Cacao sipping chocolate is available with or without spice in a 4 oz. tin which is adequate for 6-8 servings.

3. Bean to bar chocolate: This chocolate bar is made using traditional Italian recipes which include amaretto biscotti and butter biscuits. This chocolate bar is perfect for dinner parties when served on a traditional charcuterie tray.

4. Love bar: This chocolate bar is a handcrafted artisan chocolate bar that is 75% dark chocolate. The love bar main ingredients include; raw cane sugar and cocoa beans. The love bar flavours are rich with notes of raspberries, tobacco and coffee.

Confectionary
Cacao Atlanta also has confections for adventurous foodies and home bakers. Cacao Atlanta offers nibs and Hispaniola cocoa powder in accessible amounts i.e. 150g Trinitario Cocoa Powder and Trinitario Cocoa Nibs.

Gifts
Cacao Atlanta also has a number of chocolate gifts such as; chocolate buttons and a chocolate book inspired by Cacao Atlanta chocolate makers. The chocolate buttons contain 65% white and dark chocolate buttons dusted with fleur de sel and pearl powder. You can treat anyone with a jar of chocolate buttons from Cacao Atlanta. You can also give out the chocolate book as a gift to chocolate enthusiasts.

Holiday chocolate products
Cacao Atlanta also has a variety of chocolate products ideal for the holidays. For instance, there is the peppermint fondant that has been made using all natural peppermint in 75% dark chocolate (bean to bar) mixed with crushed peppermints. This chocolate is perfect for a holiday treat. Cacao Atlanta also has another special holiday chocolate; Hannukah Truffle Box. The box contains 24, 65 percent Hispaniola chocolate truffles that can be shared with friends and family throughout holiday seasons. Other chocolate holiday treats from Cacao Atlanta include; Maraschino Muscadine Cordials, a holiday tin, chocolate Lover’s basket e.t.c.

Why is it that when people are sad or depressed, they always have a natural craving for chocolate? Think about it. People always find themselves eating a slice of rich chocolate cake or indulge in chocolate candies when they are sad. Or perhaps it’s drinking a delicious cup of hot chocolate that does the trick. It’s easy for people who are going through some rough times to just grab a bag of chocolate bars and munch on them like there’s no tomorrow. For some reason, chocolate has always been there to make people feel better.

Naturally, this is partly because chocolates taste really good. It has that distinct taste you can’t find anywhere else, so people look for this taste when they’re feeling depressed. Chocolate brings warm feelings of comfort and happiness, and this is why a lot of people turn to it. However, when you look at the components of chocolate a little closer, there’s actually some scientific basis as to why it is such a good anti-depressant. It’s definitely not just because it tastes good.

Chocolate as an Anti-Depressant

Dark chocolate can make you feel better, and this is because it contains a natural anti-depressant. Studies have shown that dark chocolate contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant that can counteract feelings of “moroseness.” This means that as you eat dark chocolate, you take in this compound and it naturally flows into your bloodstream. With serotonin in your system, it will be easier for you to change your depressed mood into a happy one. This is precisely why chocolate seems to make people less sad and less moody.

Caffeine, Caffeine!

If having a natural anti-depressant compound is not enough, it’s also worth noting that chocolate contains natural stimulants as well. This makes it doubly effective against sad feelings, because stimulants can really pump up one’s energy and make one feel less depressed. Depressed people just sulk in the corner, but you can’t exactly sulk when you’re stimulated by certain substances found in chocolate like caffeine and theobromine.

The Magic of Endorphins

Aside from being a natural anti-depressant and containing an obvious stimulant, chocolate is also shown to stimulate the production of endorphins. When you have endorphins in your system, this creates feelings of pleasure and happiness. These natural feelings can of course counteract the feelings of depression, so having an endorphin “high” from chocolate is actually beneficial to your mood.

One has to remember though that the anti-depressant benefits of chocolate can be maximized when you consume chocolate in its purest form; or at least in as pure a form as possible. Once chocolate is mixed with milk, lots of sugar, nougat, and all the other ingredients, then you could be getting a lot of the cholesterol and fat but not much of the benefits. As with anything else, it’s also important to watch the calories and really consume chocolate in moderation.

Chocolate is something that a lot of people love – whether it’s a dark chocolate bar, a warm chocolate drink with marshmallows or a slice of moist and fudgy chocolate cake. For years, chocolate has been a favorite among many, and this is true whether chocolate is eaten by itself or mixed with desserts and drinks.

The fact that chocolate is so sinfully delicious makes some people doubt if eating chocolate is healthy at all. With people being so conscious about what they eat and how many calories they take in, chocolate is rarely classified under the “healthy” food group but what many people don’t realize is that chocolate actually has quite a number of health benefits.

Of course everything should be taken in moderation, and one should still watch out for the sugar levels mixed in the chocolate. By saying that chocolate has a lot of health benefits, this does not mean that you should eat slices upon slices of chocolate cake without restraint. It’s important to understand however that chocolate by itself is something that a lot of people can actually benefit from but it should never be taken in excess.

Here are some of the most important health benefits of chocolate:

Chocolate can lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

Many people watch their diets because of the danger of high levels of blood pressure and cholesterol. Dark chocolate can actually improve your cardiovascular health by keeping your heart healthy. It lowers the levels of LDL or bad cholesterol in the blood, and it can reduce high blood pressure.

Chocolate is rich in antioxidants.

Antioxidants are big nowadays, especially because people want to prevent cancer and fight free radicals from invading the body. Cocoa happens to contain flavanoids, and these are compounds that naturally occur as antioxidants.

Chocolate is a very good anti-depressant.

Chocolate makes people happy, and for some reason, chocolate is always there to comfort people who are sad or depressed. Studies have shown that this is not just because chocolate tastes so good. Scientifically, chocolate contains the natural anti-depressant serotonin. Not only that, but chocolate also releases endorphins into the bloodstream. The endorphins are the ones that trigger the feelings of happiness.

Chocolate pumps up energy and metabolism.

People become energetic after eating chocolate, and this is not only because it’s a natural anti-depressant. When people eat chocolate, their energy levels increase and so does their metabolism.

Chocolate is high in magnesium.

Chocolate comes from cacao, so it’s worth looking at the cacao plant to uncover the health benefits of chocolate. For one, cacao is very high in magnesium, and this mineral has a lot of health benefits and can help regulate many of the organ systems.

Given all of these benefits, chocolate is obviously not something you need to take off your list of healthy foods. In fact, it has a lot of little known advantages that can make people healthier.

But, the thing is, you have to remember that chocolate is still high in calorie and fat, so the fact that it has a lot of health benefits doesn’t mean that you should just eat chocolate without restraint.

We all love chocolate. And we know that chocolate somehow comes from cocoa. But what is cocoa and where does cocoa come from?

The cocoa bean is commonly referred to as cocoa. In some areas, it is known as cacao. Cocoa is derived from a plant known as the Theobroma cacao. The fruit of this seed is dried and fermented. The pod of the cacao tree has a thick rind of about 3 cm thick. Inside this pod are a number of white seeds, which turn reddish brown on being dried.

Production

The global production of cocoa currently stands at around three million metric tonnes. The main cocoa producing areas of the world are farms in West Africa (in countries such as Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Nigeria) and in Latin America where Brazil, Ecuador and Papua New Guinea are the chief producers.

Harvesting

Cocoa pods are harvested throughout the year and there is no specific season for harvesting. This is because the pods mature at different rates throughout the year. A cocoa pod may be red, green or purple in colour and as it matures the colour changes to red. 

Processing

Once the pods are harvested, they are split open and the beans (seeds) are removed. They are then laid out to dry in the open or in heaps. During this period “sweating” of the beans occurs and the pulp flows away. Fermentation also takes place in this stage. The beans are then stamped on by using bare feet and dried further in the sun. Very little mechanical input goes on in the processing of cocoa beans so as to maintain their natural flavour.
The beans are then shipped off to production factories in the United States or in Europe for milling and production of chocolate and other products.

Health Benefits

The health benefits of dark chocolate and consumption of cocoa products is said to have great effects on the cardiovascular system because cocoa contains flavanoids which is know to help reduce the risk of heart disease & cancer.