Today is World Chocolate Day

Today is World Chocolate Day. It was first celebrated by the French in 1995.
History of chocolate begins from Mexico. In 1502 when Christopher Columbus entered the land of Atsteks, as a sign of hospitality they served hot chocolate, which he refused. In 1519 Cortez approaches the shores of Mexico, which liked the drink adding cane in it. The new drink was approved in the Spanish court, which they named “black gold”. In 1615 by the efforts of Austrian Anna, wife of Louis the 13rd chocolate appeared in the French court.
In 1828 Dutch Coenraad van Houten created a hydraulic pressing equipment, due to which oil was refined from cocoa beans. In 1874 in the English “Fray and sons” company sugar and cocoa powder was added to the oil and the first chocolate bar was produced. In 1875 the milk chocolate was already created and Sweden managed to be called the “world of chocolate.”
Today many people not only like, but can’t imagine their lives without chocolate. Love towards chocolate is explained by the scientists with the fact that there are lots of useful components in it. Also there are some substances in chocolate that promote relaxation and psychological recovering; many people even consider chocolate to be anti-depressant. It is also supposed that chocolate has anti-cancer quality and slows down aging.
Today in all countries over the world it’s already proved that cocoa generally prolongs life, and Dutch scientists insist that it has positive influence on pregnant women.
Scientists found out, that people who eat about 7,5g of chocolate per day, about one candy, are insured by 39% from the danger of heart attack.
A German eats 8kg of chocolate per year, an Englishman and a Belgian – 9kg, a Swedish – 11kg. The French eat about 36 thousand candies only on Christmas, which in their weight exceed four times the weight of the Eiffel Tower. 90% of modern Americans eat chocolate every day.
Note, that according to the International Cocoa Organization in the years of 2012-2013 there can be chocolate deficit in the world, as its demand is rising and cocoa production reducing. This can promote rise in the price of cocoa.