Today, the 7th of July, marks World Chocolate Day, and because of this extra special occasion, we’re intending on increasing our dopamine intake for the day. But first, let’s enlighten you with these five facts you probably didn’t know about chocolate, other than the fact that it does make you happy. 

Chocolate was once used as a currency

As a result of the Aztecs’ immense love of chocolate, cocoa beans were used as a trading currency back then. Can’t we bring this back? We wouldn’t mind getting paid in Toblerones and Ferrero Rocher!

White chocolate isn’t chocolate

Dear white chocolate fans, sorry to tell you but your favourite treat isn’t really chocolate. For anything to be identified as chocolate, it has to contain either cocoa solids or cocoa liquor. However, white “chocolate” is made of cocoa butter.

The chocolate chip cookie was a mistake

Did you know the heavenly invention was an accident? Chocolate chip cookies were invented by chef, food lecturer, and dietician Ruth Graves Wakefield. When Wakefield ran out of chocolate, she chopped a Nestlé chocolate bar instead, thinking it would melt in the cookie dough turning it into chocolate cookies. And this, ladies and gentlemen, was how the world’s first ever chocolate chip cookie came to life.

Chocolate is healthy

WE KNEW IT! Chocolate actually has a lot of health benefits; it’s a good source of antioxidants, and it helps improve blood flow and lower blood pressure. It’s also very nutritious as it’s rich in magnesium, iron, manganese, phosphorus, and more.

But a lot of it can kill you!

As much as it’s healthy, delicious, heavenly, flavourful, and everything you’d ever wish for, too much of it can kill you. Chocolate is also rich in theobromine, which is a highly powerful stimulant that can lead to heart failure, seizures, dehydration, or acute kidney damage. However, for it to be fatal, you need to ingest around 22 pounds of chocolate. So, please, don’t go as far 40 bars! 

Happy World Chocolate Day, everyone!