Chocolate Week celebrates its 14th anniversary this year and hundreds of events are expected around the UK, with the country’s top chocolatiers and chocolate producing companies, as well as hotels, bars and restaurants celebrating by hosting talks, tastings, demonstrations and sampling, as well as creating exclusive products, new launches, offers, chocolate meals, cocktails and recipes using some of the best chocolate brands from around the world.Chocolate Week aims to promote finest flavour chocolate, the independent artisan chocolatiers and the chocolate companies who work in direct partnership with cocoa farmers, encouraging consumers to pay a fairer price for their chocolate.

Cocoa trees are cultivated in plantations in between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. This delicate bush loves hot and humid conditions usually in the shade of taller plants and trees. Cocoa trees like an altitude of 400 to 700 metres for ideal growth and development. Each cocoa plant can produce up to a kilogram and a kilogram and a half of beans per year- about two to three pounds.

Traditional brands abound and in the next few weeks sales of chocolate products will escalate as people prepare for Christmas with gifts of chocolate – the Nations favourite treat.

However, there are very many artisan chocolatiers producing fabulous creations including flavours that have never been tried before, check these out in your local specialist chocolate shops; Chocolate with garlic, with chilli, curry powder, lavender, rose flavour, salt, and new ideas are being developed all the time.

Chocolate comes in several types ranging from very dark in colour to quite light in colour. NB. White chocolate isn’t really chocolate..., sorry about that but it is typically made from a blend of cocoa butter, milk solids, sugar, milk fat and lecithin — a fatty emulsifier to hold it all together.

Dark chocolate is believed to be more heart friendly having more true chocolate solids and less sugar and is recommended as part of a balanced diet.Dark chocolate has a naturally bitter taste but is grand with a cup of tea. Lighter chocolate, on the other hand, is sweeter,it contains cocoa solids that are diluted with milk, cream, and sugar. This combination of ingredients gives it a smoother and creamier texture than dark chocolate.

Hot Chocolate makes a wonderful alternative to tea and coffee especially on cold Carol singing evenings.

Check at https://www.chocolateweek.co.uk/  for national and regional Chocolate Week events and enjoy.

Nothing near you? Why not create your own Chocolate Week event and raise some cash for a local charity? What a tasty way to enjoy helping others.

The Best of Taunton and Bridgwater.