Happy Valentine’s Day to the all the couples AND single out there!!! Hope you all enjoy the bundles of chocolate and candies (P.S. Go to the dep rn and spoil yourself… hec I’ll be doing that for sure LOL)
The association of chocolate and love goes as far back to the Maya and Aztec Eras. Mayans would use cacao as their main form of currency to buy food and sex. In Mayan marriage ceremonies, cacao beans were exchanged along with vows between the bride and groom where they would gift each other five grains of cacao while saying “ These I give thee as a sign that I accept thee as my husband/wife”. While during the Aztec era, cacao grains were consumed to function as an aphrodisiac… talk about seduction >.<.
Valentine’s Day was is attributed to Christian martyrs named Valentine, however, there was no connection to romanticism until 1382 where Chaucer, an English Poet and Author, wrote Parlement of Foules where he talks about the origin of love when “every bird cometh to choose his mate on “seynt Voayntynes day”. Centuries later, Valentine’s day became an annually celebrated event where songs, poetry and roses were exchanged amongst people to signify love.
It wasn’t until the mid 19thcentury where sir Richard Cadbury introduced chocolate tin boxes decorated with cupids and hearts that not only were gifted as a sign of love but also the boxes were treasured - He is essentially accredited with the invention of the first Valentine’s day candy box. Cadbury’s competitive advantage did not last long, where his rival Milton Hershey launched the production of “Hershey Kisses” in 1907. Clara Stover, Founder of Russel Stover chocolates, established her own company and sold valentine’s day chocolates in heart-shaped boxes across several department stores – becoming the most renowned for commercializing Valentine’s day chocolates.
It fascinating to know that expressing one’s love with chocolate is one that was inherited several thousands of years ago. As we reached the industrial revolution era, we commercialized chocolate…creating quite a dangerous love FOR Chocolate!
Now is your time to find a loved one and share a moment or two…with chocolate.
Written By: Amalie Younes, U3 Food Science Student | Bite-Sized
References:
- Coe, S.D, Coe, M.D. (2013). The True History of Chocolate. Thames & Hudson Ltd, 181a High Holborn, London WC1V 7QX.
- Henderson, A. (2015). How Chocolate and Valentine’s Day Mated for Life. Retrieved from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-chocolate-and-valentines- day-mated-life-180954228/
- Olver, L. (1999). Valentine’s Day Candies & Menus. Retrieved from http://www.foodtimeline.org/valentines.html