20 Amazing Chocolate Facts

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when we mention chocolate bars? Warmth? Happiness? Luxury? Cravings? Whatever relationship you have with the sweet stuff, it’s likely that it’s a loving one – especially due to the fact that you’re here reading this blog!

Kids and adults alike love chocolate. It’s so wonderful that it can even solve every problem imaginable. Feel sad? Eat chocolate. Got something to celebrate? Then why not buy a whole box? Chocolate should really be the 8th wonder of the world when you think about it. In fact, it’s been so highly prized throughout time that it’s even been used as currency! So, whether you enjoy sugar-free chocolate, good old Australian chocolate, Whittakers chocolate or any other type, read on for some amazing chocolate facts!

1. Cacao seeds were used as money by the Aztecs
2. The first ever chocolate bar was invented by Joseph Fry in 1847
3. Montezuma II, the Aztec emperor, drank over 50 cups of chocolate every day!
4. Chocolate milk aids recovery after a workout
5. The chocolate river in the original Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory was made with cream, chocolate and a staggering 15,000 gallons of water! Sounds amazing? The cast said that it stank because it spoiled so quickly.
6. Way back in 1930, a lady named Ruth Wakefield ran out of baker’s chocolate while making cookies, so she used Nestle chocolate pieces instead. She later sold on her idea for creating chocolate chip cookies to Nestle for a gift of a lifetime supply of chocolate!
7. Bizarrely, Lays once produced limited edition chips coated in milk chocolate. Yum!?
8. An Aztec slave could be purchased for 100 cocoa beans

Why We Crave Crunchy Snacks

We all crave crunchy snacks like Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and chips every now and then. They’re tasty and they’re handy to have in the kitchen when we feel like a bite. Have you ever wondered why you crave something crunchy though? You know those times where a soft sandwich will never do and all you want to enjoy is that satisfying crispiness in your mouth? In this blog, we take a look at a little bit of the science behind why we love crunchy and loud foods.

A sensory experience

People just love the sensory experience of eating noisy, crunchy snacks. As we’re demolishing them, the sound brings us feelings of satisfaction. When we hear it, we just want to eat more. However, if you’re on the receiving end of listening to someone else loudly crunching, it can be pretty annoying. So, crunching is a very personal thing!

Fresher food is good food

Interestingly, babies aren’t born enjoying noisy food. There are no benefits to the sounds a food makes as we’re eating them in terms of nutrition. Having said that, it’s true that noisy foods tend to make us feel that they are fresh. Think about it, whenever you’ve eaten a soggy or even slightly less crunchy chip, its likely that you’ve not enjoyed it or thrown the bag away. Even thinking about fresh produce, such as celery or apples, the better the crunch, the fresher it is and the more nutrients and vitamins it contains.

Noisier foods tend to be fattier

Another school of thought when it comes to crunchy American snacks, Japanese snacks and more is that our brains enjoy the fat in food and that noisy foods tend to be fattier. We always enjoy a little something that we know might not be great for us in huge amounts, especially when it’s flavour-laden!

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