Apologies, this is a very frivolous post. Although maybe not so frivolous — food matters, and similar considerations apply to the manufacture of chocolate as to e.g. the running of nuclear power stations, or the efficient provision of educational services.
First, let me tell you why you should regularly eat organic chocolate:
- Chocolate is good for your brain (sorry, don't have links to the research, but I'm sure you can google them for yourself).
- You want to avoid non-organic because cocoa is one of the most highly-sprayed crops (no good doing your brain good in one way, if it harms it in another).
Until recently, I bought Green & Black's which is available in most supermarkets by now. However, frankly their chocolate is not as nice as some non-organic e.g. Lindt. (Cadbury's? Pur-lease. If you must eat newsagent chocolate, at least go for silk rather than cotton.*)
Now, however, I have discovered a brand which is utterly fabulicious: Montezuma's organic 73%, made on the sunlit summits of Sussex (slight hyperbole). Okay, so the cocoa content is lower than G&B's 85% (which, frankly, is barely edible it's so bitter). But according to the back of the packet:
Judging chocolate by cocoa content is like judging wine by alcohol content. Always consider the variety of bean, climate, soil, weather, skill and about 5 zillion other things that have a more significant effect.I won't try to describe the wonderfulness of it, my prose isn't up to it. Suffice it to say I have never eaten chocolate that good in this country. (Germany/Austria/France, yes. Sorry Britain.) I recommend you try it for yourself.
Sadly, at the moment Montezuma's is only available in some health shops and delis, though probably also online (haven't tried). But that may change; after all, G&B didn't hit supermarkets till about a year ago I think.
No, I'm not being sponsored by Montezuma's.
Happy, chocolatey Easter.
* I.e. Galaxy
PS "Fair trade" chocolate? Don't get me started. The best I can do for that particular political-correctness movement is not to discriminate against it when making purchases.
9 comments:
...Someone's going to ask, so it might as well be me --- does eating Montezuma's chocolate incur Montezuma's revenge?
I nearly put something in about this, but couldn't remember whether it's true that chocolate has a laxative effect. If it does, then the choice of name is less than felicitous.
...My experience is that, ahem, it does.
Its "wonderfulness" may indeed surpass description, but I just hope you haven't overdone it... ;)
I understand that chocolate from the African island state of *Sao Tome y Principe has excellent properties.
* off the coast of Cameroon
Interesting. Details/links? I trust you don't mean "digestive-aid" properties.
Flavanol-rich chocolate is supposed to be good for the old noddle. Dunno where you'd get it, though.
"PS 'Fair trade' chocolate? Don't get me started. The best I can do for that particular political-correctness movement is not to discriminate against it when making purchases."
In times past I used to feel guilty about not buying that stuff. In fact, conscience pangs were the only reason I ever bought Fairtrade or G&B's bitter orange spice-thing. And I never bought anything made by Nestle...
I'd like to hear your thoughts about the whole "ethical consumer" market (assuming it doesn't raise your blood-pressure too much). What's genuine and what's gimmick in your book?
Just found this --- gotta love that name.
Go, Power Chocolates, go!
But sorry, no cigar.
"Made with Love, Respect and Compassion for You and Our Planet" -- good.
Non-organic cocoa -- baaad.
Brains? Chocolate? Here's a suggestion:
11pm. . . Mug of hot goat's milk with a spoonful of Green & Black's 100% cocoa powder (and a teaspoon of organic demerera for sweetness).
The milk provides the sugars and fats your brain needs, and the cocoa all the wonderful health-giving flavanols for your individual brainbox.
Bedtime luxury, Wiggle your toes, Watch your IQ. . . Up it goes!
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