We know that research is being done on how chocolate can help in the recovery from a heart attack, how chocolate milk can help sore muscles heal, how it could prevent malaria, protect against dementia, keep your bones healthy, and help with headaches, and now we can add one more to this ever-growing list: wrinkles!

Research published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology is showing that the same antioxidants that are good for your heart are also good for your skin, and that a daily dose of dark chocolate could very well keep you looking younger. Sounds like my kind of …read more

A recent proposal by Steven Maranz from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York could mean some very sweet health news worldwide: Studies are currently being conducted to see how chocolate can help to prevent malaria!

Malaria is one of the most common infectious diseases, affecting upwards of 350–500 million people per year, mostly in Sub-Sarahan Africa. Five species of the parasite affect humans, and the illness is typically spread by infective mosquito bites.
The parasite feeds on blood fat, and the theory is that chocolate can help to fight the parasite because chocolate sticks to cholesterol which would ultimately weaken the …read more

This week, more than 400 exhibitors are in Paris, France for the 2009 Paris Chocolate Festival. The event, which runs from October 14-18th, kicked off last night with a chocolate fashion show. And yes, everything that was worn was either made with or layered in chocolate!

The five day event will feature the latest innovations from chocolatiers around the world, and will include cooking demonstrations, a cocoa show dedicated to the cultures and countries that produce cocoa, tasting sessions and even an awards show.
Last night’s fashion show featured French celebrities, including models, actors, singers and television personalities, who strutted down …read more

Scharffen Berger chocolate is teaming up with Tuttifoodie.com for their third annual Chocolate Adventure Contest.

Anyone can enter the contest, which encourages creative recipe creations for both sweet or savory dishes. The recipes must include Scharffen Berger Chocolate and at least one suggested ingredient from the “Adventure Ingredients” list, which includes fresh mint, crystallized ginger, pandan leaf, banana leaf, sumac, raw honey, cacao nibs, fresh or whole dried chili pepper, malbec, peanut butter, black-eyed peas, rice flour, papaya, cumin, paprika, and smoked sea salt.
Two grand prizes of $10,000 each will be awarded, one for a sweet dish and one for …read more

This is actually one chocolate product I never knew existed: chocolate cigarettes. I remember the bubble gum cigarettes from when I was a kid — they were thin white sticks sold in packs made to resemble cigarettes, and blowing on one end produced a puff of sugar “smoke” from the other end. You’d pretend to “smoke” it for a minute before the lure of bubble gum took over and it was devoured.

Now that flavored cigarettes (as in real cigarettes) have been recently banned, the idea that the nostalgic candies even resemble the now-banned items have some fans of the candy …read more

I first wrote about Bubble Chocolate over two years ago, and it’s only now being released to U.S. markets!

The chocolate bars, which are available in 60% dark and milk chocolates, are loaded with tons of tiny little bubbles, which make for an interesting texture experience when eaten.
The makers, who say they were inspired by the European aerated bars, say they were tired of waiting for the air-filled chocolate to hit the US, and decided to finally take matters into their own hands.
I’ve had Canadian Aero Bars several times, and while I like them about as well as anything, …read more

Having grown up in a household where several family members suffered from migraines, I learned early on that some foods can be a headache trigger. One sibling gets hit when he eats turkey, another when she eats certain cheeses. Added to the list of things they should generally avoid (provided by the family doctor) were chocolate, dairy, certain breads, and a few other meats.

Being a teenager at the time I couldn’t imagine giving up such staples as chocolate and bread, but I also hadn’t suffered from a migraine yet! Thankfully, the occasional ones I do get now aren’t food triggered, …read more

Can you imagine having something like this when you were in high school? Chocolate is now being offered in “relaxation rooms” in UK high schools and universities.
Stressed out pupils not only get to relax in a quiet environment that includes soft lighting, comfy furniture and soothing music when they’re feeling the pressures of exams, but they now also get to nibble on chocolate to help calm their frazzle nerves (and even get a pat on the head!).
The relaxation rooms and chocolate appear to be a response to recent research that indicates parents and teachers aren’t properly encouraging children and teens …read more

The world’s first chocolate powered car, the Formula 3 or “F3,” is set to take its inaugural spin around the race track next month!

I first wrote about this car back in April, and since then the vehicle has been brought up to racing standards in order to compete next month at Brands Hatch in the United Kingdom.
The car, which has been dubbed “the world’s greenest racing car,” is made from from recycled carrots, carbon fibers and soy byproducts which would have otherwise ended up in a landfill. It runs on a bio-diesel made from waste chocolate and vegetable oils, and …read more

Serendipity 3, the famous New York shop most famous for its Frrrozen Hot Chocolate, is celebrating not only its 55th birthday, but also its 10 millionth sale of the legendary treat!

The famous shop has been open since 1954, and on September 15, 2009, they’ll be celebrating their 55th birthday by serving the 10 millionth Frrrozen Hot Chocolate drink to one lucky patron. No word on if the customer will get anything special, though being recognized as #10,000,000 might be honor enough!
The Frrrozen Hot Chocolate, a slushy, decadent chocolate drink, has been Serendipity 3’s signature drink for decades and has a …read more