My thought of chocolate

" I like chocolate very much. But sometime I hate chocolate. When Valentine's Day is approaching,
I hate chocolate. Because I have never got chocolate when Valentine's Day. Because I hate Valentine's Day too. As a solution I buy a chocolate for myself from now. "


 This is my friend’s interesting story. When I heard this story , I was really laughing.
I have only a memory of chocolate is Valentine’s Day too. I have got a chocolate when Valentine’s day , but it was obligatory-gift chocolate. Obligatory-gift chocolate is woman give chocolate for the man with no romantic feelings. To express their feeling of gratitude. when Valentine's Day as I wrote before. So I have been sad a little when Valentine's Day. Because I fidget Valentine's Day every year. I hope to get chocolate when Valentine's Day from girlfriend.

 I think chocolate is food that symbolizes love in Japan. There are a lot of love songs about chocolate. For example, "Chocolate" is singing by Hanako Oku is a love song that feelings for boyfriend. In it, chocolate is the representation of the feelings of the girl. Sweet chocolate express feelings of love, bitter chocolate express painful feelings.

"Monster's Ball" was published in 2001 in the United States. This movie's Japanese title is "Chocolate". I thought it is good to name this title. Because this movie is bittersweet and it included the contents of racism. Chocolate is bittersweet and black. I like this movie.

I like chocolate and eat it everyday . It is instinct and I will not stop eat it. It is not a bad thing. I recommend that you eat chocolate every day. Because chocolate is good for your health.

Goodbye and thank you for reading!

Cacao

Cocoa?
In evergreen native to the tropics of South America from Central America, has a high temperature throughout the year, grew up in rainy regions. Fruit is shaped like a rugby ball, large hanging directly from the stem.
Grains and contains about 20-40 in one fruit, the seeds of the cocoa beans are generally referred to as is the raw material of chocolate or cocoa by fermentation.
Cocoa is rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, and dietary fiber. In addition, of course, to be included in the cocoa polyphenols, antioxidant activity and is working to relieve stress, reduce the effect of caries bacteria.

Workings of the cocoa

1. toning the body with mineral rich
Cocoa is rich in minerals iron and zinc, calcium, and magnesium. It is effective in the prevention of anemia, iron, calcium and magnesium have a frustrating work and soothe the nerves calm and protect the health of the bone. You can support the work of more than 500 enzymes that are present in the body, help the reincarnation of the cells, zinc has a function to keep the hair and nails clean.
Functions necessary for the regulation of the body upon which we make a living, nutrient minerals are indispensable.

2.Relax in the cocoa polyphenol
There is a function that lets you relax and relieve stress in the cocoa polyphenols contained in cocoa. Moreover, in order to have the effect of relieving the tension and improve the circulation of the blood component also called theobromine contained in cocoa beans, relaxing effect is expected.

3.Fight off the disease in antioxidant
Cocoa polyphenols have strong antioxidant, to prevent or reduce the cholesterol and arteriosclerosis, are good and also strengthen the prevention of hypertension and vascular function.
It is effective in the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases with these symptoms.

4.Eliminate constipation in dietary fiber
Cacao is extremely rich in dietary fiber. We dietary fiber discharge me reach the intestine without being digested and absorbed, so I'm the unwanted ones in the stomach.

Foods rich in cocoa is chocolate!
Point to be careful in life is a chocolate containing a large amount of cocoa polyphenol ingredient in health, is a high-fat because they are processed in addition to the oil and sugar, it is a food high calorie.
Care must be taken to eating too much.

Valentine's day

The origin of Valentine's Day

The history of Valentine's Day, and dates back to the era of the Roman Empire.


At that time, Rome was the Feast of the goddess Juno, February 14. Juno is the queen of all of God is also a God of marriage and family. February 15, the next day, was a day that begins which is also the festival of purification of the festival to pray for good harvest Ruperukaria. The girls were living with another young men at that time. The day before the festival, the daughters were to be placed in a vat bill wrote the name on a piece of paper. The next day, the men were pulled from the tub one bill. I was determined and the daughter of the man who pulled the name of the bill, and that you are together as partners during the festival. Our many partners and married, and fell in love as it is.
It is said that the decrease morale because there are so
ldiers who
leave home to loved ones, Emperor Claudius II, the Roman Empire, and prohibited the marriage
of soldiers in Rome. The Valentine was a Christian priest was to marry a soldier in secret, trapped, and was executed. The date of execution is a national holiday of Juno, was chosen dare is February 14, the day before the festival is Ruperukaria. Valentine is said to have been dedicated to the festival sacrifice with Ruperukaria. Even for Christians, this day is the national holiday For this reason, it has become the day of lovers is a general theory.


The origin of Valentine`s day

The origin of Valentine`s day

Western
And Europe is the date that may be both men and women, to give people lover and close, a variety of cakes flowers and gifts, such as cards. Writing and "From Your Valentine", the card, or even write "Be My Valentine.".
In Europe and the United States, not as seen in Japan, the practice of White Day.
Is a different kind of gift, gift chocolates practice began in England in the late 19th century. Launched a chocolate gift box with a picture of Richard Cadbury Cadbury's second president in 1868 is beautiful. Back and forth on this, Cadbury has also released a heart-shaped Valentine candy box. Chocolate etc. These boxes are now often used to gift to the lover, such as Valentine's Day, this custom has spread to other areas go after. Since the solid may be treated as a kind of chocolate candy in English, there are documents that are referred to as "candy box" that this product.

Japan
Became popular from around 1958 in Japan, . However, the contents of which is one of the most unique to Japan has evolved. Some are made by foreigners who came to Japan before the war, but the spread was attempted for promotion by industry and confectionery industry distribution shortly after World War II, Japan had taken root in society, was the late 1970s. Was around this time that the style of the "Japanese-style Valentine's Day" was also satisfied "women to donate chocolate with great affection with a male predominance."

In Japan, it is customary to give chocolates as a confession of love to men women.

Although there can give chocolates to the person who will love and care in Europe and the United States as well, I can not even limited to Valentine's Day, nor does it represent that it has never limited to chocolate. Many point and the point of female-to-male gift that most of what gift would have been limited to chocolate, Valentine's Day is a major characteristic of the Japanese. In recent years, some people do not stick to the chocolate, cookies and cakes donated, and muffler, however.

 

The main company of chocolate

Japanese companies

Morinaga
Headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo, a leading confectionery manufacturer.
"Chocolate ball" known is popular especially in children Kyoro chan. Habit of Valentine was in Japan after World War II sparked widespread publicity Morinaga.

Fujiya
Located in Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo.
Short selling is a pioneer of Japanese-style cake, points that have contributed to the spread of unbaked cake is awesome.

Lotte
Japan is a leading confectionery maker headquartered in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
In Japanese snacks Lotte has released, march of koala is one of the company's long-selling products.

Meiji Seika
Headquartered in Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo.
"Meiji Milk Chocolate" sold has been popular for many years from Taisho year.

Company in the world

Godiva
He was a master chocolatier Dorappusu Belgium, in Brussels starts chocolate company.
To make a chocolate of various sizes and shapes, Godiva is using two types of shell molding method and Enrobingu.
A Enrobingu is that wrapped in melted chocolate and caramel. In a manner that is widely used in Europe, most of the shell molding Godiva chocolate is made in this way.

Wedel
Famous candy brands in Poland. We manufacture a wide variety of fine chocolate, cakes and snacks.
The main popular products
Chocolate coated marshmallow that has been referred to as Ptasie Mleczko.
Chocolate fillings that contain fragrant mixed with a small amount of alcohol called Pawełek.
Rich chocolate drink called Gorąca czekolada.


Leonidas
Belgian chocolate manufacturer in which it operates around the world. Major products are those covered with chocolate soft texture of the material of milk chocolate praline paste called.

Ferrero SpA

Italian food company.Dark chocolate pearl type, which is normally wrapped in chocolate Nutella instead of instead of hazelnut called Ferrero Rondnoir, crunchy chocolate is used instead of crushed hazelnut that is.

Diva Life Chocolatier
Chocolate is a luxury brand in Taiwan, which was founded in 2007 by Yvonne Lo from Taiwan. Diva Life Group was founded in 2005, began operations upscale salon, fashion business, has developed a chocolate business based in Taiwan.

World chocolate master

 
The competition
About
 The World Chocolate Masters is the world’s leading global culinary competition solely dedicated to the art of chocolate.
 The World Chocolate Masters is the only competition in the world solely dedicated to the creative use of chocolate. During the last edition, held in October 2011, Frank Haasnoot amazed the world with mysterious chocolate sculptures and stunning flavours. After 3 days of intense competition at the highest level, he impressed the jury most and led the Netherlands to victory.
‘The Architecture of Taste’ is the new theme that is set to inspire the participants of the next edition. Inspiration, creativity, design and innovation are all words that spring to mind when you think of architecture. From the Guggenheim in Bilbao over the National Stadium in Beijing to the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York, a wide variety of awe-inspiring buildings reminds us of the seemingly limitless possibilities of architectural craftsmanship. And they all have something in common. Each of these marvellous constructions is a great expression of the brilliance of the human mind.
For the 5th edition of the World Chocolate Masters, we will challenge the contestants to apply some of that architectural brilliance to the world of taste. Creating a chocolate cake, dessert and praline must be approached in the same way as creating a whole building. Patissiers, Chocolatiers and Chefs will have to express their architectural skills through taste. They will need to analyse and compose with flavours. They will need to study and design new shapes and textures. And most importantly, they will need to innovate and thrill.
To successfully complete this new challenge, the contestants will have to demonstrate their talent and creativity, and give a whole new dimension to the world of chocolate gastronomy. In short, the contestants will need to create a brand new architecture of taste, texture and experience, in which chocolate plays a fundamental role.
What is it like to participate in the World Chocolate Master's? What is it like to feel to be part of the competition and to be acknowledged as one of the greatest chocolate craftsman on the planet? Listen to the stories of the three winners of the 2009 Final and their advice to future contestants.
Japanese Contestants
Akihiro Kakimoto
Profile
42 years old Mr. Kakimoto is currently living and in charge of Chef Chocolatier at “Salon de Royal” in Kyoto (the head office of this shop is in Osaka). He has had several titles in the different competition in pastry and chocolate such as Gold Medal at Japan Cake show in Chocolate craft section etc. Now he has got the title of “Japan Chocolate Master” and will challenge for the world final of WCM 2013 in Paris.
“With this age, firstly I had relieved to hear the result” said Mr. Kakimoto reviewing his tough practice and preparation for this competition. “It will surely be the tough year again heading Paris for the World Final, but I will go to grab the world title!”
From now, he will start further practice and training to prepare the world final. The previous winners and senior chefs will give him advises and training and will prepare together as “Team Japan” for the world final in 2013.

Potential health effects

Do you know whether there is any effect on our body chocolate and cocoa?

Efficacy of a variety of cocoa polyphenols
  Active oxygen which is said to be the cause of various diseases such as cancer and arteriosclerosis. Have drawn attention now, and that is working to reduce the polyphenol. Polyphenol is included in many red wine, chocolate is are contained in a large amount of much more than that.

1.Prevent hardening of the arteries.
  Cocoa polyphenols, prevent hardening of the arteries or from proceeding cholesterol accumulates in the fibers of the arteries, in response to oxidized LDL-cholesterol, has been confirmed by the rat and human.

2.Hope to cancer prevention
  Are many mechanisms of cancer is a place still unknown, but has been left, mutagens cause mutations in the DNA of the cells first, cancer caused by activated cells promoting substances came to the cans and then I thought then.
However, when added at the same time as the cocoa polyphenols mutagens in vitro, cell DNA mutation that is suppressed when I was confirmed.

3.Overcome stress
  Was given a cocoa polyphenol in rats under stress physically, I was found to adapt well to stress. That the resistance is strengthened even for psychological stress was confirmed also.

4. Effect on allergy and rheumatic
  Allergies such as hay fever and atopic dermatitis has become a major issue as one of the modern disease, was given a cocoa polyphenols in mouse, working excessive active oxygen that causes the allergy was significantly suppressed. Where people were asked to eat a chocolate further, I have seen the same effect.

+Cocoa suppress the pathogen, also effective for wound healing+
  Such as suppressing O-157 pathogenic E. coli is known for food poisoning and heavy Helicobacter pylori associated with gastric ulcer or deep is the increase, in addition to be effective in bacterial infections, cocoa patients with severe drinking cocoa every day to heal the wound that has been confirmed faster.


+Not fat in chocolate+
  There are chocolate experiments challenged fat! Into this common misconception. When compared with standard diet-raised rats, the rats were replaced in the 20% of the diet chocolate, no difference in body weight if the calories the same, I could not see obesity as well. What did you eat much more than looking for causes of what fat is the important thing I was not been verified.


+Effective in preventing dental caries in cocoa component+
  The green tea and oolong tea that contains the ingredients effective anticaries is known, the components cocoa is effective to reduce the bacterial caries than those suppress the progression of dental caries in rats infected with bacteria cavities addition I have also found.


+Scent of chocolate enhances mental activity+
  That the smell of chocolate will raise attention and concentration, memory skills, but was confirmed from the experiments and learning brain waves of people, it is more ate chocolate Furthermore, it was found that the reaction time of the start of the track and field is shorter .

+The mineral-rich chocolate+
  Chocolate is a nutritionally balanced food rich in minerals calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. It is a good balance of calcium and magnesium in particular want to pay attention. Magnesium insufficient to increase the risk of heart disease is generally known.

Place of production of chocolate

According to the statistics of the International Cocoa Organization, worldwide production volume of the year 3.63 million tons in 2009-2010, Africa accounted for over two-thirds, divide in Latin America and the rest of Asia and Oceania.

1, Cote d'Ivoire - 1.2423.000t
2, Ghana - 632.000 t
3, Indonesia - 550.000 t
4, Nigeria - 235.000 t
5, Cameroon - 205.000 t
6, Brazil - 161.200 t
7, Ecuador - 143.700 t
8, Togo - 101.500 t
9, Dominican Republic - 58.300 t
10 Peru - 42.900 t

The characteristics of cocoa production, unlike other tropical cash crops such as coffee and bananas, that in the large-scale plantation production is not common, and the like. It can determine the reason for biological properties of the cocoa plan.Cacao trees are shade-tolerant trees, must be grown in the shade of other trees to be large. Signed with landowners an agreement to develop the land undeveloped workers, grow cacao trees in its shade while raising crops for staple foods such as cassava and bananas, in Ghana, the profit that he leaves enough cocoa to grow to that of the landlord, contract workers to those of the other half is done once flourished, was the driving force behind the growth of cacao production down the middle half of the land and development now.


Central America
-Trinidad
It is often stated that it is not, I would not think it's good, Trinitario species which allotted Forasutero high seed production and if there criollo and Trinidad. Because it is a small island in the Caribbean, the less the amount of naturally produced. Peculiar sweet smell, I have a somewhat sour and bitter.

-Costa Rica
Less characterized by mild acidity, nuances of caramel and golden raisins.

-Dominican Republic
Up CFC strong spicy aroma with reminiscent of cloves and nutmeg is characterized by rich, deep flavor is.

South America
-Ecuador
Although there is a rich cocoa Ecuador low acidity, with a smell like a flower. More than 20 kinds of cacao in Ecuador have been grown, top quality products at Ariba, remain much fruit and floral aromas of mellow.
-Venezuela
Aroma is mild, it is not a single. Moderate acidity.

-Brazil

-Peru

-Ghana
Light a rounded flavor.

-Côte d'Ivoire

Southeast Asia
-Madagascar
Fairly high acidity and rich. Distinctive taste.

-Ceylon

-Sumatra
Features pleasant acidity.