World Chocolate Day

World Chocolate Day is July 7th

Is there anything as worthy of celebration as chocolate? World Chocolate Day, also known as International Chocolate Day, celebrates the flavor that is beloved all across the globe. See also National Chocolate Day on October 28th. 

Until the 16th century, chocolate didn’t exist in most of the world. It was discovered in South America, where the locals used cocoa beans with other ingredients to make cold or hot drinks. When the Europeans colonized the Americas, they brought chocolate back with them and eventually transformed it into the sweet we know and love today. The date that is associated with chocolate first being introduced to Europe is July 7, 1550. 

Fun ways to celebrate World Chocolate Day

This holiday is all about consuming chocolate! At the very least, you should either eat chocolate or make chocolate at home. There are also many other ways you can celebrate this holiday! Visit a local chocolate shop and experience new flavors or types of chocolate. Or delve into the history of chocolate over time and learn how and why it has become such a popular treat today. The most important thing to remember during this holiday is to enjoy chocolate and its rich history.

Chocolate Fun Facts

• The country of Sweden consumes the most chocolate with an average of 20 pounds per person consumed in a single year! This is compared to the United States which only consumes about 9 pounds of chocolate per person a year
• Solid chocolate was invented in 1847 by two British people, before then it was only consumed as hot chocolate
• White chocolate isn’t really chocolate it doesn’t have cocoa in it
• “Cacao” is “cocoa” in Spanish
• ~90% of the world’s chocolate is raised by small farms
• Cocoa trees can grow up to 200 years old but only give beans for about the first 25 years of its life
• In order to make 1 pound of chocolate, you need 400 cocoa beans Chocolate originated in South America
• There are two types of cocoa beans: the forastero and the crillo bean

How World Chocolate Day Unites People

Chocolate is a tasty treat that is very enjoyable with others. Getting together and celebrating this holiday only makes it more fun! Get together with your friends or family and bake some chocolate. Or go to a candy shop and taste all the varieties. Make or buy extra chocolate to share! After all, chocolate is a delicious treat that is accessible to all and it’d be a shame to pass up this holiday without celebrating with others.