Chocolate, gotta have chocolate
If you love chocolate as much as we do, hold on to your mug. This November, we’re bringing back our richest and fudgiest Tea of the Month ever: Hot Chocolate.
So let’s shine the spotlight on the irresistible ingredient that brings this blend to life.
We’re in love with the cocoa
So what’s the secret ingredient to making chocolate? Cocoa beans. For starters, the higher the percentage of cocoa, the darker the chocolate will be. Thus, the more cocoa in the blend, the fewer additional ingredients are needed. And much like tea, cocoa will taste different depending on where it’s grown (this is referred to as “terroir”). Getting this flavour profile right is so important that, like tea or wine sommeliers, there’s an entire trade of professional chocolate connoisseurs. Not a bad job to have!
Chocolate coins
Imagine a world where you can use chocolate to buy things. Many years ago, it wasn’t such a far-fetched idea, with Aztecs and Mayans using it as a form of currency. In the late 18th century, it was used to supplement wages during the American revolutionary war. And today, the practice continues with kids using it to barter during school lunches.
If you’re happy and you know it
The last time you ate chocolate you may have noticed a slight feeling of euphoria afterwards. While the taste alone can bring you joy, there’s also a chemical effect. That’s because chocolate contains tryptophan and phenyl ethylamine, which trigger the brain to produce endorphins that make us happy. One thing’s for certain… we can’t eat it without smiling.
Craving dessert yet? Make yourself a cup of hot cocoa and top it off with fluffy Hot Chocolate tea-infused marshmallows.
