Chocolates from Laderach Switzerland / Photo Courtesy of Laderach Switzerland
Since I usually prefer to “spend” my fat/carbs/calories on dessert, I don’t need Valentine’s Day (or any holiday, for that matter), as an excuse to scarf down chocolate and white chocolate. But since Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, I’m especially interested in all things chocolate.
One of Li-Lac’s Valentine’s Day Assortments / Photo Courtesy of Li-Lac Chocolates
First, let’s take a step back and look at the significance of Valentine’s Day. According to The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets, Valentine’s Day has metamorphosed from a pagan fertility ritual to a celebration of Christian martyrs, to a saint’s day, to a celebration of love. Interestingly, chocolate has long been associated with romance.
Chocolates from La Maison Du Chocolat / Photo Courtesy of La Maison Du Chocolat
While Valentine’s Day is associated with love, it should also be associated with brisk candy sales. According to stats from The Confectioners Association, 92% of Americans plan to purchase candy for Valentine’s Day, including a staggering 58 million pounds of chocolate.
One of Teuscher’s Chocolate Assortments / Photo Courtesy of Teuscher Chocolates of Switzerland
But let’s get to the important stuff – the chocolate itself. When I think of Valentine’s Day, I think of boxed chocolates: individual bonbons, truffles, and other confections. What exactly is a bonbon or a truffle? According to The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets, bonbons contain fillings such as creams, fruits, nuts, caramels, jellies, etc., and are enrobed in chocolate. On the other hand, chocolate truffles are made from chocolate ganache and usually enrobed in chocolate. Why are they called “truffles”? You guessed it—because they look like the underground mushroom delicacy.
Li-Lac Chocolates’ Butter Crunch (which includes a layer of milk chocolate) / Photo Courtesy of Li-Lac Chocolates
What can put a damper on chocolate purchases—for treats during the year or for special holidays, such as Valentine’s Day? The price. While fine chocolate has always been expensive, CNN reports that chocolate prices are up 20% this Valentine’s Day. The culprits are years of bad weather in the cocoa-producing region of West Africa and a swollen shoot virus impacting cocoa plants.
Another factor that might negatively impact sales is research showing that chocolate, especially dark chocolate, could contain concerning levels of the heavy metals lead and cadmium. In response to these concerns, the Fine Chocolate Industry Association points out that cadmium is a natural element found in the Earth’s crust, is naturally present in soil, and many healthy foods, such as leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts, fruits, etc., also contain cadmium.
A box of Vegan Chocolate Truffles from Lake Champlain Chocolates / Photo Courtesy of Lake Champlain Chocolates
Moving on to some promising chocolate developments…As reported in Plant Based News, the vegan and dairy-free chocolate market is expected to experience enormous growth over the next several years and is projected to reach a very hefty $4 billion by 2032.
Strawberries & Cream Heart (with white chocolate) from Bien Cuit / Photo Courtesy of Bien Cuit
Here’s to enjoying delicious chocolate (including white chocolate, of course) throughout the year!
Dessert Surveillance 