National Cocoa Day 2023: Date, History and 5 Chocolate-Related Facts

National Cocoa Day 2023: Each year on December 13, we celebrate National Cocoa Day. Typically, hot milk or water, sugar, and cocoa powder are used to make hot cocoa. There is some confusion, though, because some also refer to it as hot chocolate. Ground chocolate containing cocoa butter is used to make hot chocolate.

By fermenting, drying, roasting, and grinding cocoa beans, we can also create chocolate liquor. The cocoa butter is then taken out, leaving us with just the cocoa powder. Hot chocolate is made with this cocoa powder. Depending on what you put in it, it is a reasonably healthy drink with very little fat and calories.

The National Cocoa Day History

The history of chocolate is lengthy and ancient. Cocoa’s first known origins date back 5,000 years. This, according to archaeologists, is only as early as we can trace it. Of course, because sugar was still in short supply back then, chocolate was very different from what it is today. The drink was available all year round and had flavors of chili and vanilla. It was supposedly more common during the Olmec era, when people used it for supplication. It was formerly used in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica as a medium of exchange.

European explorers discovered it for the first time in South America, where people had been enjoying it for hundreds of years prior to their arrival. Furthermore, the Spaniards initially thought the flavor was unpleasant and bitter. Chocolate has really become a taste that is acquired. It wouldn’t be sweetened until it was brought to Europe and accepted as a high-class beverage by the affluent. The creation of milk chocolate resulted from this. Additionally, powdered chocolate wouldn’t be made available for consumption until 1828. The chocolate bar and instant hot cocoa appeared shortly afterward.

Forastero, Trinitario, and Criollo are the three main types of cocoa plants. A popular variety that accounts for up to 90% of global cocoa production is forastero. Trinitario is a hybrid cocoa variety that came from Trinidad. Criollo is less common and more prone to disease; Venezuela is the country that cultivates the majority of it. Trinitario is the highest quality variety and, because it is resistant to disease, yields more than the other two.

Ideas For National Cocoa Day Celebration

Consume chocolate.

Without sipping on a cup of this delectable beverage, National Cocoa Day cannot be fully observed. Enjoy a cup of cocoa that has been made to your liking. Try out various versions of cocoa recipes during a tea break to add some fun to your work. Have a cocoa recipe swap.

Utilize some hot cocoa bombs.

Try your hand at creating hot cocoa bombs if you’re an ambitious lover of hot chocolate. Chocolate spheres made with cocoa, marshmallows, and additional ingredients are called hot cocoa bombs. It’s a very different way to savor chocolate.

Experiment with different spices and toppings.

Try experimenting with different toppings to up your hot cocoa game. Toffees, caramel, marshmallows, and candy canes are just a few of the toppings that can elevate your drink’s flavor. If you don’t like candies, try nutmeg, cinnamon, or allspice, or flavor the cocoa with almond extract.

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5 Chocolate-Related Facts That Will Astound You

Rich in taste

Chocolate has a unique aroma due to the over 600 flavor compounds it contains.

There exist four distinct varieties of chocolate.

They are milk, white, blond, and dark chocolates.

Technically, white chocolate isn’t really chocolate.

Although it doesn’t contain cocoa powder or cocoa solids, white chocolate does contain cocoa butter. T

strong industry

Globally, the chocolate market is valued at more than $75 billion annually.

high level of caffeine

Espresso has less caffeine than dark chocolate, which has 12 milligrams per ounce, and milk chocolate, which has 9 milligrams.

Why We Appreciate National Chocolate Day

Cocoa tastes great.

There are millions of chocolate enthusiasts worldwide, and traditional cocoa recipes exist in all cultures.

A day of trying new things

Another way to celebrate National Cocoa Day is to get creative with your hot cocoa. Experiment with different toppings or even create your own chocolate recipes.

Its past is extensive.

Chocolate and cocoa have a long history together. Cocoa beans have gone from being objects of worship to being mass-produced confections for consumers. To celebrate, post something on social media and amass knowledge about cocoa trivia to make yourself seem knowledgeable.

NATIONAL COCOA DAY DATES