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What's not to love about chocolate? In addition to tasting creamy, sweet, and rich, new studies suggest that chocolate has mood-enhancing effects upon those who indulge. In addition, dark chocolate is said to contain antioxidants that promote good health and prevent certain diseases. No need to feel guilty for enjoying this confection!

Chocolate is a food made from the cocoa beans that grow on tropical cacao trees. It has an intense flavor, contains a small amount of caffeine, and is often used in baking, sweetened and eaten as candy, or used to flavor beverages and desserts. The two most popular forms of processed chocolate are dark chocolate and milk chocolate (which is dark chocolate with added condensed milk or milk powder). White chocolate contains cocoa butter but no cocoa solids. A mark of high quality gourmet chocolate is the use of real vanilla beans rather than vanillin as a flavoring agent.

Recent Chocolate News

Mother's Day Gift Guide: The Best Dark Chocolates
These dark chocolates are the perfect healthy indulgence for mom on Mother's Day.
By Amber Gibson, Contributor. Forbes. Wednesday, 24 Apr 2019 02:34:00 +0000.
Medical News Today: What is a chocolate cyst?
A chocolate cyst is an ovarian cyst filled with blood. These growths form in people with endometriosis, usually when the condition is severe. Here, learn about the treatments for chocolate cysts and their potential effects on fertility.
Medical News Today. Tuesday, 23 Apr 2019 12:00:00 PDT.

Chocolate candy is available in the form of fudge, bars, molded shapes, and dipped confections. It ranges from popular-priced chocolate you can find on the grocery store shelves to gourmet chocolates you can find at chocolate shops and other specialty retailers. Some specialty chocolate is combined with other flavors and candy such as toffee, coffee, caramel, fruit, and nuts. Other chocolate confections, made for people with special dietary needs, are nut-free or don't contain sugar.

In recent years, researchers have discovered important health benefits associated with dark chocolate. At a 2002 meeting of the AAAS, scientists reported that the flavonoids present in dark chocolate can help improve circulatory system health. Later, in 2004, a UCSF clinical trial confirmed these results, demonstrating the heart-healthy benefits of eating 1.6 ounces of dark chocolate per day. As a matter of fact, some experts believe that chocolate can reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad" cholesterol) levels and raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good cholesterol) levels, as well as lower blood pressure and diminish the risk of blood clots. Those are some amazing benefits for something that tastes so great! However, these benefits are present only in dark chocolate. Milk chocolate does not have the same heart-healthy benefits. So how do you know that the chocolate you are eating is good for you? Choose chocolate that is 70 percent or more cocoa solids. While most chocolates do contain sugar, try to avoid ingredients like palm-kernel oil, hydrogenated oil, and milk fats. Because chocolate is so "addicting," be sure to limit your portions, and be aware of how much you eat. Avoid eating large amounts of chocolate, because it is high in calories and fat, and too much chocolate is not good for your waistline.

Watch: A Red Strawberry is Dipped in Dark Chocolate Sauce

Chocolates are a popular gift, especially at holiday time, because gourmet chocolate makers design special shapes and confections for holidays. Here on ChocolateShop.us you can shop for a great selection of chocolate confections, creations, and gifts from leading chocolatiers.

Gourmet Chocolate Shops

Dan's Chocolates

Fresh, hand-made gourmet truffles, delivered directly from Dan's Chocolates to you.
www.DansChocolates.com
zChocolat.com

Handmade French chocolates with high cocoa content and relatively little sugar and fat.
www.zChocolat.com
Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker

Features premium American-made dark chocolate.
www.ScharffenBerger.com
Chocolate Necessities

Gourmet chocolate truffles and other chocolate gifts, made with fine Belgian chocolate.
www.ChocolateNecessities.com
See's Candies

California chocolate shop offers famous old time candies.
www.Sees.com
Godiva Chocolatier

This popular chocolate shop offers fine chocolate gifts.
www.Godiva.com
Ghirardelli Chocolate

Manufacturer and marketer of premium milk chocolate and dark chocolate products.
www.Ghirardelli.com
Lindt USA

Well-known maker of premium Swiss chocolate since 1845.
www.LindtUSA.com
Neuhaus

Belgian chocolates by Belgium's master-chocolatier.
www.Neuhaus-Online-Store.com
Lake Champlain Chocolates

This upscale chocolate company offers chocolate truffles and other gourmet chocolates.
www.LakeChamplainChocolates.com
Hershey's

Offers a wide range of popular chocolate candy products.
www.Hersheys.com

Chocolate and Cocoa Organizations

Fine Chocolate Industry Association

Supports professionals in the fine chocolate segment of the chocolate industry.
www.FineChocolateIndustry.org
Cocoa Merchants' Association of America

Founded in 1924, this organization fosters the trade and welfare of the cocoa industry in the USA.
www.CocoaMerchants.com
International Cocoa Organization

This global organization, composed of cocoa producing and cocoa consuming nations, works toward a sustainable world cocoa economy.
www.ICCO.org

Chocolate Shop Sign Credit

La Rue du Chocolat

448 South Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, California 92651
Offers Handmade chocolate and truffles.

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