| Chocolate, or the cocoa bean to be more exact | | | | through a method called conching which uses a |
| was used by the Aztecs as early as the year | | | | special machine. Finally, the chocolate is tempered |
| 400 but it was Columbus who first introduced it | | | | -heated up and then cooled again for the final |
| to the new world when he brought it back to | | | | result.Chocolate NutritionGood quality chocolate is |
| Spain. Chocolate as a drink was quite popular in | | | | actually rather nutritious! It contains vitamins and |
| Europe in the mid 1600's, but chocolate as a solid | | | | minerals including calcium and magnesium. It also |
| wasn't introduced until 1847. Thirty years later, | | | | contains anti-oxidants that help to prevent cancer |
| milk was added to create milk chocolate and | | | | and heart disease. These benefits are found |
| candy bars have been enjoyed world wide ever | | | | mostly in dark chocolate and only in high quality |
| since!Making ChocolateIt is actually quite simple to | | | | chocolates that use 60% or more cocoa solids. |
| make chocolate, but each maker has his own | | | | Cheap chocolate is mostly fat and sugar and has |
| secret recipes. First off, the cocoa beans are | | | | little nutritional value.Storing ChocolateYou should |
| roasted and ground up. Next you add sugar and | | | | store chocolate in a cool, dry place. It does |
| the other ingredients (milk if you are making milk | | | | absorb flavors so make sure you wrap it tight. |
| chocolate). Each maker will have a different list of | | | | You can freeze it for up to 6 months. Chocolate |
| ingredients. The ingredients are blended together | | | | stays good for up to a year. |