Dark chocolate

Dark Chocolate

In ancient times it was considered a food of the Gods, today it is one of those delicious and irresistible products that it is impossible to do without: it is dark chocolate, a real typical Italian excellence. The unmistakable bitter taste of this delicacy that, eaten in the right amount, is very good for the mood and has health benefits.

Dark chocolate is passion, a sensory experience at three hundred and sixty degrees from smell to taste, from sight to touch. Its texture may be soft or hard, shiny or opaque. Among the desserts with dark chocolate it is impossible to say no to a cake or even better to a warm pie with a soft heart filled with dark chocolate. In this section you will find the best of Italian dark chocolate.

Dark chocolate: history and legends

The history of dark chocolate dates back to at least 3000 years ago. In the beginning, dark chocolate was the only form of chocolate that existed.
'Theobroma cacao' is the scientific name for chocolate, which literally means 'food of the gods'.
Its origins are very ancient and are associated with the Mayan period, the people who were probably also the first to cultivate the cacao plant. Already in ancient times, chocolate was considered a food for the privileged. The Mayans reserved its consumption only for certain classes of the population: the rulers, the nobles and the warriors. In those times the Mayan population used to drink the cocoa drink prepared with hot water.
After the Mayans, the Aztecs also began the cultivation of cacao, and later the production of chocolate: they associated chocolate with Xochiquetzal, the goddess of fertility.
Cocoa was consumed by the elite during important ceremonies, offered together with incense as a sacrifice to the deities and sometimes mixed with the blood of the priests themselves. In addition to liturgical and ceremonial use, in the Americas, chocolate was consumed as a drink, called xocoatl, often flavored with vanilla, chilli and pepper.
In 1500, Christopher Columbus, first and then Cortes, discovered the cacao plant in the Americas and brought its seeds to Europe for the first time. Throughout the 16th century, chocolate remained exclusive to Spain

The types of dark chocolate

In Italy, dark chocolate is regulated by a law that dates back to 2003. To be defined as such, dark chocolate must meet very specific requirements, such as the presence of low-fat cocoa, cocoa powder and cocoa beans, as well as persimmon butter and sugar. The percentages of these ingredients must be specified on the label that accompanies the product. If the dark chocolate bar reads “pure”, it means that it must not contain additional vegetable fats and that the percentage of these fats is allowed, in any case, in the percentage of 5% of the weight of the product. Dark chocolate must contain a minimum percentage of cocoa, at least 43% and cocoa butter, at least 28%, while cocoa paste, or the dry substance that composes it, can vary from 55% to 70%. Above this percentage, we speak of extra dark chocolate, while chocolate with a percentage of cocoa paste from 85% to 90% is classified as extra bitter, as such a high concentration of pasta gives the product a very intense flavor, appreciated by those who love strong and persistent flavors

Dark chocolate: characteristics and benefits

As for the benefits, science has shown that dark chocolate offers feelings of happiness thanks to tryptophan, an amino acid that exerts its power on serotonin, phenylethylamine and anandamine, removing stress. But not only that, because dark chocolate, thanks to the presence of polyphenols, also helps to recover energy. And again, it increases attention and alertness, reduces anxiety, improves cardiovascular functions, has an antibacterial effect, thanks to tannins, chemicals found in plant extracts and helps fight diabetes, increasing insulin resistance.
Last but certainly not least, dark chocolate has fewer calories than milk chocolate!
Now all you have to do is visit Spaghetti & Mandolino and discover which types of dark chocolate for sale online we have