Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Dark Chocolate - The Black Sheep of Sweets

By Krish Rock


There is a dark, subtle, and sublime treat out there that is not only healthy and good for you, but tastes absolutely divine. This one little snack has helped me teach my clients how to get rid of sugary and unhealthy snacks while still making them feel like they are indulging in something naughty.

Almost any woman you ask will say that chocolate is their greatest weakness. But when it comes to dark chocolate, this is one weakness you can definitely give in to.

Not only that, it helps fight breast cancer, and even osteoporosis! So don't feel so bad, ladies, the next time you're feeling a strong chocolate craving. Though it hasn't quite been pin pointed what it is exactly the chocolate provides for women and why we need it so often, I'm now confident enough to say that it's a safe thing to stock up on every month in case of emergencies.

Other factors contributing to the historical Arriba flavor profile have also been lost in the shrouds of history; one interesting example is the origin and type of the wood used for fermentation boxes, which is said to contribute to the final chocolate flavor.

They're also really low in calories and fat. For chocolate, it is the lowest. And when you go for the even darker varieties, fat and calories goes down and down. Can you imagine getting almost 20% of your daily dose of iron in 1 ounce of dark chocolate? It's true. Simply indulging in a little bit of dark chocolate will help increase your iron intake. This is especially important for us women especially around that time of the month when our iron needs go way up. This is also the same time when our chocolate cravings go way up.

When you eat a little bit of chocolate, you do get a little bit of caffeine. It's actually less caffeine than what you can find in a cup of weak tea. It's not enough to stimulate anyone, but it might give you a little bit of clarity if you have to do some work.

And the minor players are more often than not opting for ambiguity over transparency, both in their marketing and sourcing, which ultimately benefits no one. I see the issue as one similar to "peak oil." Will we run out of the oil we need to develop the technologies to maintain and enhance our standard of living before those technologies are here? Will we build them while we have the oil to do so? Or will we simply conduct business as usual until the oil is almost gone, then struggle for a solution? It's the same with the Arriba Nacional flavor profile, as well as the Nacional variety of cacao in Ecuador. Will it disappear before adequate efforts are made to save it, or will industry, government, and the private sector act now, before it's too late, to keep Arriba Nacional and Nacional beans on the map?




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