Dark Chocolate Rush: Spoke person of Market leader Cadbury responds an e-mail in Nov 2006: "Currently we do not market any dark chocolate in India. In our view, dark chocolate will only cater to niche segment." But exactly after two years (Oct 2008), Cadbury India, launched its dark chocolates--Cadbury Bournville Fine Dark Chocolate-in the Indian market.
Let's see the flavors in it, once upon a time "xocolatl" was the drink of emperors & warriors. Today, the emperors & warriors might no longer be there, but the beverage seems to have left behind a "Dark" & tempting legacy.
Neither Montezuma nor Cortes knew it then; the bitter, frothy, drink was rich in carbohydrates & contained small amounts of stimulants including caffeine. All xocolatl drinkers agreed, however that it gave them a great energy boost. And Cortes decided to bring the re-vitalizing drink back to Spain. We learnt all of this more than 500 years after Cortes returned home with dark beans.
I'm sure that your mind is thinking; Who is Montezuma & Cortes? What's there relation?
When Montezuma, the Aztec Emperor of Mexico, entertained Herman Cortes, the Spanish conquistador, in 1519, he gave the warrior a special welcome-drink called xocolatl, literally "bitter water". And it was bitter for more than 2000years, the Central American Civilizations of the Mayas, Toltec and Aztecs had been cultivating an evergreen tree called cacao. It's an odd plant that produces its fruit, or pods, from its trunk and limbs. Inside each pod are 20 or 40 seeds that are protected like embryos in a fleshy womb. These seeds are called cocoa beans. The inquisitive conquistador asked the Emperor how the beans had been transformed into the bitter beverage he was drinking. He was told that they had first been fermented in their pods, then roasted, ground into a paste over a small fine and mixed with vanilla, spices and maize. This paste had been patted into small cakes and dried under the shade of a tree. When Montezuma wanted xocolatl, his royal servitors broke up the cakes, mixed in some hot water and whisked them into a foamy consistency before presenting it to their Great Lord. The prepared drink must have looked like our espresso.
Food for thought(to be contiune)!
