Chocolate: A Passionate History of America’s Favorite Sweet

Leave it to the French, however, to further the food’s reputation as an aphrodisiac! Casanova – the infamous womanizer – drank chocolate before seeing his lady friends, and as word of his romantic prowess spread, so did the romantic reputation of chocolate, inspiring much erotic art and literature in the French royal court.

In Barcelona in 1780, finally the first machine-produced chocolate was made. It was still in liquid form, however; smooth, solid eating chocolate would not be available until British chocolatier Fry & Sons developed the first solid chocolate bar in the early 1800s.

So when did Valentines Day chocolates begin to become a tradition? Richard Cadbury, founder of Cadbury Chocolate, introduced the first box of Valentine chocolates in 1868. However, the chocolates must have been dark, because the first milk chocolate was not brought to market until 1875, when a Swiss chocolate maker named Daniel Peter introduced it.

Chocolate became so popular around the world that during World War II, the U.S. government shipped cocoa beans to the troops. Even today, the U.S. Army includes chocolate bars in their rations. Chocolate has even been taken into space by NASA.

So is chocolate an aphrodisiac? Chocolate contains a small amount of phenylethylamine, which has been linked to the regulation of physical energy, mood and attention. A tiny amount of this chemical is released during moments of emotional euphoria, elevating heart rate and blood pressure. There’s no evidence that this chemical in foods elevates the level of the chemical in humans – however, the extra dopamine boost that you get from the caffeine and sugar in chocolate, combined from the happiness of eating such a yummy treat, might put you in a better frame of mind, which can only be a good thing when it comes to romance! Also, some scientists have said that chocolate causes the release of oxytocin, aka “the love chemical”, which causes us to bond with one another. Final analysis? It never hurts to believe!

And it can even help, if it gets you to eat a little chocolate: Dark chocolate (as opposed to milk or white chocolate) contains healthful flavonoids similar to those found in tea, red wine, fruits, and vegetables. Studies have shown that dark chocolate can improve blood vessel flow and may improve blood sugar and insulin sensitivity to help reduce the risk of diabetes. But beware, chocolate candy has plenty of saturated fat and sugar, so enjoy small portions of as part of a healthy diet.

If you do happen to overindulge, just remember, these “Chocolate holidays” only come a few times a year, so just get back to your healthful eating plan as soon as possible – and take a nice, long walk outside to get your motivation and energy back in line. That always does a body good!

Tour a Chocolate Factory in San Francisco (video – RealPlayer required)