An Introduction to Chocolate gifts

Introduction.

Although chocolate is now known to have been being used as a beverage as long ago as 1500 BC, it is not possible to establish if giving chocolate gifts was also commonplace then. Today, in its many forms, chocolate is probably the most commonly given gift from one person to another. From a packet of the humblest chocolate chip cookies to the most elaborate box of chocolates; chocolate gifts at prices to suit all budgets are readily available.

The beginnings of Chocolate gifts.

We know that chocolate is manufactured from the cocoa bean and that cocoa trees most likely originated in the Amazon rain forests. The first cocoa plantations are attributed to the Mayans around 600 AD, but it is the ancient Aztec civilization, of Central America, with which we now most closely associate the beginnings of ‘chocolate’ as we know it. It is known that even prior to Christopher Columbus becoming the first European to taste Chocolate, that cocoa beans were in use in Central America as a form of currency, being even then the source of what was a luxury good. The concept of chocolate gifts was, therefore, well established before European influences. It was Cortez, returning to Spain from Central America, who is acknowledged with introducing chocolate to Europe. He clearly had an eye to the potential of chocolate as a luxury gift as, before returning to Spain, he established his own cocoa plantation in Mexico. Remaining a luxury drink for several centuries the popularity of chocolate spread across Europe and the American colonies. It wasn’t until 1848 that an Englishman, Joseph Fry, discovered how to produce ‘eating chocolate’ meaning that solid chocolate bars started to be made and, of course, were soon being sent to people as a chocolate gift. However, it wasn’t until the latter part of the 19th century that Rondolphe Lindt perfected a way of refining and smoothing ‘eating’ chocolate; and started producing luxury chocolate gifts.

Types of chocolate used in gifts.

Ignoring unsweetened or cooking chocolate and the cocoa powder itself, there are seven types of chocolate that are commonly used in chocolate gifts.
Bitter chocolate - is often only available from delicatessens, it has a very strong flavour and can be used in cooking instead of plain chocolate.
Dark chocolate - is probably the most classic of all the chocolate gifts to give. Sometimes referred to as plain chocolate, it’s very popular with true chocolate connoisseurs.
Milk chocolate - a mild tasting chocolate, in which some of the chocolate is replaced with milk solids. Milk chocolate gifts are very popular in the UK and the USA.
White chocolate - in actual fact white chocolate need not contain any cocoa related substance at all. Ideally it will have some cocoa butter in it, but even that can be replaced with vegetable fats. However, having said that white chocolate gifts are very popular as they tend to be very sweet.
Drinking chocolate - whilst perhaps not an obvious choice as a gift on its own; flavoured drinking chocolate gifts are becoming more popular. It can also be used to coat other luxury foods like truffles.

Dipping chocolate - with fondue sets making a return to dining tables everywhere, taking dipping chocolate to a dinner party makes an ideal chocolate gift.
Couverture chocolate - unless you’re a professional or extremely enthusiastic cook, receiving couverture chocolate as a gift might seem strange. This form of chocolate is excellent for coating and moulding. It is subsequently most likely to be used in a chocolate gift that has an unusual shape to it, such as novelty chocolate animals etc.

Buying chocolate gifts.

 There are plenty of High street stores from which you can buy all manner of chocolate gifts from, most days of the year. However, by using an internet based company you can order chocolate gifts 24/7, and arrange for them to be delivered anywhere in the world. Established and reputable online stores specializing in chocolate gifts will have easy to follow instructions on how to place a chocolate gift order, as well as clearly showing you what the gift will look like; whether it’s a birthday chocolate gift basket or romantic chocolate gift.