Cocoa beans don’t grow in the United States, do they? After all, one normally associates them more with the tropics than the snow-choked plains of the US. In fact, this holds true for our country, too. Cocoa beans do indeed grow in the USA, but only in very limited areas. There is a narrow band known as the Cocoa Bet or the Chocolate Belt. That sounds more enticing that the Rust Belt or the Snow Belt! The Cocoa Belt essentially follows the tropics, extending twenty degrees north and south of th...

Kids and adults alike will love this sweet summer shake. It’s creamy, delicious, easy to make, and sure to become a fan favorite. Here are the details:

This version of crème brûlée is slightly cheaty. If you have a small blowtorch on hand then please feel free to make it properly, but this is both easy and caramelicious.

Everyone loves a good chocolate truffle, but few people know how and why they taste as good as they do. The word truffle itself has several meanings in the world of confections. Like the word praline, you have to clarify what is being discussed. That’s because in different countries words mean different things. The original chocolate truffle, a French invention, was a ball of ganache made with chocolate and cream, often flavored and rolled in cocoa. It was named after the precious black truffl...

Everyone loves a good chocolate truffle, but few people know just how and why they taste so darn good. The treat's couverture, or coating, plays a big role. Next time you bite into a chocolate truffle, you’ll appreciate the taste even more.

These are so smooth they melt in your mouth like a luxurious chocolate truffle, with a flavor and texture burst from the orange zest, cranberries and almonds. Our brownies contain different types of sweet and savory for a truly toothsome treat perfect any time throughout the year. In fact, why not bring some of these brownies to your 4th of July celebration? Here's how to get started on this delectable dessert.

You’ve probably heard people describe themselves as “chocoholics.” But can people really become addicted to chocolate? And is part of chocolate’s “addictive” nature due to its reputation as an aphrodisiac?

Is carob a decent substitute for chocolate? Carob is a brown powder made from the pulverized fruit of a Mediterranean evergreen. Some consider carob an adequate substitute for chocolate because it has similar nutrients (calcium and phosphorus), and because it can, when combined with vegetable fat and sugar, be made to approximate the color and consistency of chocolate. Of course, the same arguments can as persuasively be made in favor of dirt. :)

Chocolate is a favorite dessert for cultures around the world. Not only is it delicious but chocolate also has many beneficial properties and even can help to improve one’s mood! A lesser known quality of chocolate, however, is that it’s possible to make face masks with it and that these masks can do a very good job hydrating, lifting, rejuvenating and toning your face. If you’re going to make a homemade chocolate mask, be sure to use high-quality chocolate with at least 70% cacao. Can you im...

Our recent post on 10 Neato Coffee Facts Worth Knowing was so popular that we've come up with another 10 interesting facts about our favorite energy-giving elixir.