- Chocolate takes many forms around the world, from the raw bean to delicate truffles.
- Some countries drink it, others eat it, and some use it as a mask.
- Here's how it's made and used in 18 different countries.
Is there such a thing as too much chocolate?
Just kidding, of course there isn't.
However, chocolate is more than just a delicious dessert. Research has shown that eating it releases dopamine, a feel-good neurotransmitter, and reduces stress. It can also improve your memory. No wonder it's so popular across the world.
Here's how chocolate is made, eaten, and otherwise consumed in 18 different countries.
About 1.5 million tons of cocoa are produced in the Ivory Coast every year.
Source: Notes Techniques
To make chocolate, fermented and dried cocoa beans are roasted, winnowed, and ground into a thick brown liquid that is mixed with milk and sugar.
A dried cocoa pod and roasted beans are pictured at a workshop of Belgian chocolate maker Neuhaus inside the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert in central Brussels.
From there, the possibilities are endless.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider