Global Sweetness: Celebrating World Chocolate Day

Savor the Sweetness

Celebrated annually on July 7th, World Chocolate Day commemorates the introduction of chocolate to Europe in 1550. This annual, global event is about enjoying and sharing a passion for chocolate in all its forms, from dark to milk, bars to truffles and everything in between! Whether you’re a certified chocoholic or simply delight in an occasional treat, join with chocolate fans around the world to appreciate and celebrate one of life’s yummiest indulgences. As chocolate is routinely featured at every joyful event, it is fitting that, in 2009, chocolate was given its own day to take center stage! The theme for 2025 World Chocolate Day is “sustainable and ethical chocolate” – shining a light on organic farming, promoting fair trade practices and supporting the livelihoods of cocoa farmers while maintaining a commitment to environmental stewardship.

There’s only one thing better than chocolate. More chocolate!

Unwrapping History

The “chocolate story” began more than 5,000 years ago in ancient civilizations like the Mayans. These early cultures believed cacao was a gift from the gods and, as such, chocolate (“chocolhaa” which means “bitter water”) was revered and used in religious rituals and special celebrations (prepared as a drink). In the 16th century, Spanish explorers brought cacao beans from the Americas to Europe and added sugar and vanilla to make the chocolatey drink more enticing to Spanish tastes. This sweet, delectable treat instantly became a popular beverage, especially among the elites. In 1847, an Englishman, Joseph Fry, began experimenting with a solid form of chocolate and ignited a global love affair. That bold move, coupled with the industrial revolution and development of the cocoa press, forever changed the way the world consumed the majority of chocolate – delighting taste buds everywhere. Statistics show that nine out of 10 people have a passion for chocolate, and an astonishing one billion people enjoy it on a daily basis. That’s a whole lot of chocolate love!

When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

Delicious Celebrations

Chocolate is truly one of life’s simple pleasures. Around the globe, people celebrate World Chocolate Day in many and varied ways, from attending chocolate making workshops, experimenting with new chocolate recipes or just enjoying their favorite chocolate goodies. It is also an opportunity to raise awareness about ethical and sustainable practices in chocolate production. No matter how you decide to celebrate the impact chocolate has had on the world (e.g. cultural, historical, economic, culinary), the key is to savor and enjoy the sweetness. Here are some scrumptious ideas to celebrate World Chocolate Day.

Chocolate Themed Movie Night: Select one or more chocolate-themed movies and enjoy them with favorite chocolate treats (e.g. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Chocolat, etc).

Visit a Chocolate Factory: Take a tour of a local chocolate factory or visit a specialty chocolate store to see how chocolate is made and taste fresh samples.

Chocolate Tasting Party: Gather friends and family for an evening of delicious fun. Have them bring their favorite chocolate recipes to share. Serve a chocolate charcuterie.

For the Love of Chocolate: Share the joy of chocolate with others by gifting them with chocolate bars, truffles, fudge or homemade chocolate treats.

Chocolate Pairings: Combine different chocolates with wine, nuts, cheese or fruit – you may discover a new and flavorful combination.

All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.

10 Fun Chocolate Facts:

Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants which improves heart health, lowers blood pressure and reduces inflammation.
West Africa grows 70% of the cacao trees in the world today.
The Aztec emperor Montezuma reportedly drank 50 cups of chocolate each day for energy and love.
Chocolate releases dopamine (the love hormone) and has been a romantic symbol since the 1800s.
Cacao beans were so valuable to the Aztecs that they were used as currency.
Chocolate contains compounds like theobromine and phenylethylamine, which reduces stress hormones
The record for the world’s largest chocolate bar weighed more than 12,000 pounds and was 13 feet in length.
Chocolate melts at 93 degrees, below human body temperature, which is why it melts so smoothly in your mouth.
Valentine’s Day became commercialized during the Victoria era – the first heart-shaped box of chocolates was created in 1861.
It takes 400 cocoa beans to make one pound of chocolate.

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Debbie Linville

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2016. Although Debbie has lived as far south as Florida, as far north as New York and as far west as Texas, she loves calling North Carolina (Winston Salem, in particular) home. Debbie married her high school sweetheart and they have two grown, married children. Their nest is far from empty – two adorable Havanese, Lola and Millie, keep them on their toes and fill their home with joy! Debbie recently retired from a long career in the educational arena. She holds a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction with a focus in literacy education. After 20 years in the elementary classroom, she spent the next two decades teaching and supporting pre- and in-service teachers. She still continues to promote educators in myriad ways, but is thoroughly enjoying the flexibility of a schedule she crafts to engage in activities of her choosing. She loves spending time with family and friends, volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House and Crisis Control Ministries, pursuing hobbies such as card making, quilting, and photography, cooking, reading, traveling (as often as possible!), and writing on a consistent basis for Forsyth Magazines!

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