10 Facts about Chocolate....Did you know?

1. How Long?

Farmers have to wait 4-5 years before the cocoa tree is mature enough to yield a cocoa pod.  We definitely agree it's worth the wait and couldn't thank these farmers enough for the hard work they do.

2. That's a lot of Cocoa

70% of the worlds cocoa supply comes from West Africa (Ivory Coast).

3. Thank you Mr Fry

The first Chocolate bar was invented by Joseph Fry and his son in 1847 in Bristol.  We are forever in your debt.

4. Money really grew on Trees.

The Aztecs loved and valued the cocoa bean so highly that they used it as currency during the height of their civilisation.

5. Now that is heavy

The largest chocolate bar ever, weighed in at 5,792kg, created in the UK to celebrate Thornton's 100th birthday.  That's almost as much as an African elephant (6000kg).

6. Super smelly

A chocolate river existed in 1971.  The famous river from the original Will Wonka & the Chocolate Factory film was made with 68,000 litres of water mixed with chocolate and cream.  The river spoiled fairly quickly due to the cream and the cast said it stank.

7. That's a lot of labour

The process of making chocolate from cocoa beans can take about a week.  

8. Food of the Gods

Theobroma Cocoa is the tree that produces cocoa beans, and it means "Food of the Gods". 

9. When it came to Europe

When Cortés returned home, he introduced cocoa seeds to the Spanish. Though still served as a drink, Spanish chocolate was mixed with sugar and honey to sweeten the naturally bitter taste. Chocolate quickly became popular among the rich and wealthy. 

10. 8 years to develop milk chocolate

Daniel Peter, a Swiss chocolatier and entrepreneur, spent eight long years trying to figure out a recipe for milk chocolate that would work. It wasn’t until 1875 that he realized that condensed milk was the answer to all his troubles. We’re so glad Daniel never gave up!