Chocolate. The food of lovers, the elixir of love,or perhaps even an aphrodisiac. Whether it is Valentine's Day or a Saturday night date, chocolate sets a mood.
Many might say that the history of chocolate is also the mystery of chocolate. It is interesting to look back at how the European monarchy initially disliked the taste of chocolate, then recognized its wonderful taste, and eventually discovered its potential qualities as an aphrodisiac.
When chocolate was first introduced to the King and Queen of Spain, it was scorned as bitter-tasting. Years later, Cortez returned from the New World with cocoa beans and took a risk by reinroducing chocolate to King Charles V. However, Cortez brought drinking chocolate to the Royal Court. Mixed with sugar and milk, the concoction delighted the King who promptly reserved the supply only for nobility. For many years, the Spanish refused to share it with any other nation, or even the common people of its own country.
In an effort to keep the mixture exclusively for the Court, Dominican Friars were used to process the cocoa beans. Around 1544, the Friars finally let the secret out, allowing the delicious discovery to be enjoyed by the rest of Europe. It was an instant hit.
Chocolate goes to Paris
When Spanish Princess Maria Theresa was married off to Louis XIV of France, custom and protocol dictated that she bring an engagement gift for her fiance'. Maria Theresa brought one of Spain's new gourmet discoveries: Chocolate. Presented in a beautifully hand decorated box, Louis XIV and the rest of France were instantly in love with both the chocolate and the Spanish Princess. In fact, it is said that King Louis and the Queen were a very amorous couple, often making love twice per day. Is this how the aphrodisiac qualities attributed to chocolate were discovered?
There is additional evidence that the French may have recognized the 'special affects' of chocolate on their love lives. There are many stories about Casanova using chocolate to seduce his lovers as well as the chocolate induced nymphomania of Madame du Barry. A few examples of art work from this period of history also present chocolate as a love elixir.
We Can Thank The Swiss
Eventually, The Swiss discovered a way to process the cocoa beans using a procedure that required 72 hours of rolling and refining. This new method is what produced the soft, melt in your mouth texture that we know and love today. We can also thank the Swiss for figuring out a way to add flavor to the chocolate by filling it.
Which brings us back to how chocolate became an aphrodisiac. Think about love, and think about food. Chocolate covered strawberries are the traditional Valentine's gift for a chocolate lover. Chocolate mousse is surely the greatest desert to end a romantic dinner. And liqueur filled chocolates are the perfect way to end an evening of love and romance. Is chocolate really an aphrodisiac? Try some and decide for yourself.
Tags : cheap cookware sets where to find the best gsm phone and save for you where to find about fellowes paper shredder,paper shredders find basketball hoop come to basketball hoop info
No comments:
Post a Comment