I am a total chocoholic. I need the brown deliciousness every single day. (And I miss Norwegian chocolate, simply can't find anything here quite as good! But that's another story...)
Always fun to learn new stuff about something you love so much! Did you know that...
- The Aztecs used the cocoa beans as currency? A rabbit would cost 10 beans, the same as the services of a prostitute...
- The first chocolate mechanical-production workshop dates back to 1777, in Barcelona (!). From then onwards the production was all artisan until the end of the XIX century when industrial fabrication started, especially in France and Switzerland.
- The fabrication process includes several phases: the roasting, the trituration and the grinding. The grinding process is what produces the cocoa paste. The paste will be transformed into powdered cocoa if dried and ground, eliminating the cocoa butter, which is used for the fabrication of chocolate.
A part of the museum is an exhibition of chocolate sculptures of all kinds. Very impressive! For example "El Beso" (The Kiss) of Pablo Picasso...
... Bambi & friends...
...a lamp post from Las Ramblas...
The Chocolate Museum has a list of chocolate consumption in the world (from 1992), and it states that Switzerland is on top with 10 kg. per person per year. The average Spaniard eats far less (
Norway was not mentioned on this list, and it got me curious, cause if you see the chocolate shelves of any supermarket in Norway, you'd get the idea that quite a lot of chocolate is consumed in my home country... So I googled it, and found an interesting article about Who Consumes the Most Chocolate with data from 2008, where, according to the International Cocoa Organization, the top 5 countries of consumption in the world are:
Germany – 11.39 kg
Switzerland – 10.77 kg
United Kingdom – 10.31 kg
Norway – 9.8 kg
Denmark – 8.57 kg
Switzerland – 10.77 kg
United Kingdom – 10.31 kg
Norway – 9.8 kg
Denmark – 8.57 kg
So yeah, Norway is among the top 5 in the world! It didn't surprise me though... If you ever go to Norway, you have to try some chocolate! And email me beforehand and I will gladly guide you through the jungle of delicious Norwegian Chocolate!!
Museu Xocolata is located in the Born district, not far from the Parc de Ciutadela.
Mitt drømmemuseum.... Jeg tror jeg er med på å dra opp snittet for sjololadespising blant nordmenn:-)
SvarSlettJeg er nok også med på det :) 9,8 kg i året er jo IKKENOE!
SlettYou're making me curious about Norwegian chocolate! I'm a chocoholic too...mmm!
SvarSlettIt's wonderful!!
SlettHaha, the Germans! :))
SvarSlettOn top! ;)
SlettSå fantastisk! Helt enig i at ingenting slår Freia Melkesjokolade forøvrig. Jeg er nå på siste plata jeg hadde med hjemmefra (som jeg ga i gave til de jeg bor med, men ender opp med å stjele tilbake og spise selv haha) og her i USA er jo den lokale sjokoladen helt forferdelig sammenlignet med Freia :'(
SvarSlettJeg har også ei plate Freia melkesjokolade igjen etter jeg hadde besøk i september :) Kjenner ikke sjokolade fra USA, men har jeg prøvd noe som var fantastisk- Reese's peanutbuttercups! Jeg var ikke engang særlig peanutbutter-fan før jeg prøvde de, men de er fantastiske synes jeg!
SlettNorwegian chocolate is added to my list. I'll make sure to try it when I visit Norway. I really hope it is as delicious as you claim ;)
SvarSlettEnjoy!
It should definitely be on the list if you like chocolate! :)
SlettI've actually had Norwegian chocolate and it is amazing! So are some German chocolates :) xoxox
SvarSlettAlways nice to hear that the Norwegian chocolate tastes nice for foreign palates as well :)
Sletthello!
SvarSlettjust saw your comment on my blog and if you're interested in participating in a similar fitness event, i know barcelona has one each september! how and where to get more info. can be found in my latest blog post: http://www.coffee-in-a-cup.com/euromeeting-dublin-2012/ :)
etta
Dang, in September! :( Oh well, something to keep in mind, it sounds FUN!
SlettThank you again for stopping by my blog. I am so excited that you found me! I am IN LOVE with Barcelona and can't wait to get back. Have a great week!
SvarSlett:) I completely share your love for Barcelona! :) A great week to you too!
SlettThat looks like an incredible museum! I loved the random facts about chocolate, too. The top five countries surprised me! My favorite chocolate fact is that Advil is coated in chocolate!
SvarSlettI had no idea what Advil was...I googled it and it seems to be ibuprofen? Are you really saying that come ibuprofen pills are coated in chocolate???
SlettI'm always surprised by the look of the plant that chocolate comes from.
SvarSlettI'm guessing you have access to some fabulous chocolate in your part of the world. Jealous.
Wonderful chocolate, indeed! My favorites are Norwegian and Belgian ones, mmm! From the US, the only chocolate I have tried is Reeses peanutbuttercups but they are delicious!
Slett