Love is upon us – next week we celebrate the most romantic of days throughout the year.
And the 2 most gifted items? Flowers and chocolate!
But where, when, and why did chocolate for Valentine’s Day originate?
As with many chocolate related historical facts, we look back to The Mayans. A civilization estimated to have been around during 500 BCE, used cocoa-brewed beverages during wedding rituals to demonstrate the couple’s future together. The glorification of cacao in Mayan sacred contexts can be seen as the first notion of it being used as a luxurious commodity, consumed by the powerful.
Then came the Aztecs, another South American civilization – at one point led by Montezuma II. He used chocolate as an aphrodisiac, and the legend of chocolate’s corrolation with desire lives on today!
Scientists ascribe the aphrodisiac qualities of chocolate to two chemicals it contains. One, tryptophan, is a building block of serotonin. The other, phenylethylamine, a stimulant related to amphetamine, is released in the brain when people fall in love.
And so, this Valentine’s Day – whether you wish to woo a special someone, spoil a loved one, or spread some Galentine’s Day cheer – chocolate, as far as we are concerned, is always the answer!
Our special range of luxury Belgian chocolates include beautiful heart adorned chocolate cupcakes, luxury assortments of pralines, ganaches, caramels, and more, oozing salted caramel truffles, and delicately foiled bright red hearts!
All available to be delivered right to your door.
Wishing you and yours a very special Valentine’s Day,
Amelie X