Facts about Fairtrade....

Cadbury has announced that its Cadbury Dairy Milk will receive Fairtrade certification with the FAIRTRADE Mark;

Cadbury Chief Executive, Todd Stitzer, says, "This is an historic moment for our company. I am proud that the nation's favourite chocolate bar will display the FAIRTRADE Mark. I was in Ghana last month and saw how vital it is that businesses support their partners and the communities they live in. We believe that by joining forces with the Fairtrade Foundation, we can further improve living standards and conditions for farmers and farming communities, and create a sustainable supply of high quality cocoa for Cadbury.

Throughout the world, Cadbury has a heritage of ethical sourcing standards and the development of sustainable agriculture programs. Cadbury works with more than 40,000 suppliers around the world who are expected to adhere to the company's Ethical Sourcing Standards. The Green & Black's Maya Gold bar owned by Cadbury is already Fairtrade Certified.

Cadbury is focused on reducing its environmental impact. Through the Purple Goes Green initiative announced in July 2007, the company set targets to reduce carbon, water and packaging. By 2020, the company intends to make a 50% reduction in 'absolute' carbon emissions with a 10% reduction in packaging by 2010. The company has also introduced several new packaging innovations, including a new display case for products such as Trident Xtra Care, using 50% less cardboard.


For more information about all of Cadbury's corporate responsibility commitments, please visit http://www.dearcadbury.com/.

About Fairtrade:
Ensuring a quality supply
By guaranteeing farmers a fair and sustainable price, Fair Trade allows cocoa farmers to invest in post-harvest techniques that bring out the individual flavors of the particular cocoa-growing region. Fair Trade cocoa beans aren't "faceless" cocoa beans bought on an international exchange, but beans that can be traced back to an individual cooperative and even individual farmers.


Fair Trade Certified chocolate is available from 10 origins, including Ghana, Ecuador, Bolivia, and the Dominican Republic. More than 42,000 Fair Trade cocoa farmers are earning a fair price for their high quality crop.

To many people, fairtrade is important.

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Herseys Chocolate French Toast

Ingredients:

* 3 large eggs
* 3/4 cup 1% milk
* 3 tablespoons sugar
* 2 tablespoons HERSHEY'S Cocoa
* 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/8 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon(optional)
* 10 slices whole wheat bread
* 2-1/2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
* 10 teaspoons soft margarine (contains no partially hydrogenated oil)

Directions:
1. Beat eggs, milk, sugar, HERSHEY'S Cocoa, vanilla, salt and cinnamon, if desired, in large bowl until smooth.

2. Heat griddle or skillet over medium-low heat. Grease griddle with margarine, if necessary.

3. Dip bread in egg mixture. Place on griddle. Cook about 2 to 4 minutes on each side. Serve immediately with 1 teaspoon soft margarine per slice.

5 servings ( 2 bread slices plus 1/2 cup strawberries)

Nutritional Information (per serving):
Serving Size: 2 slices plus 1/2 cup strawberries; Calories: 320, Total Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 4.5g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 130 mg, Sodium: 380 mg, Total Carbohydrate: 39g, Dietary Fiber: 6g, Sugars: 15g, Protein: 13g, Vitamin A: 6%DV*, Vitamin C: 80%DV*, Calcium: 15% DV*, Iron: 15% DV*

*%DV = % Daily Values are calculated based on a 2000 calorie diet

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Dark chocolate and me......

So, why should you eat dark chocolate?
We all need another reason...

Consumption of dark chocolate and cocoa may not boost heart health, and could actually increase pulse rates, according to new research.
The research, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, examined the short terms effects of dark chocolate and cocoa on variables associated with neuropsychological functioning and cardiovascular health in healthy older adults.

The researchers noted that in recent years there has been an increased interest in the potential health-related benefits of antioxidant and phytochemical-rich dark chocolate and cocoa.

The health benefits of antioxidant-rich chocolate have received much recognition in recent years, with positive findings from a number of studies impacting on consumer awareness. Chocolate manufacturers are using high cocoa content (over 70 per cent) as a means of differentiation, and cocoa has also received attention for its potential in functional food applications.

Consumption of dark chocolate and cocoa was "associated with significantly higher pulse rates at three and six week treatment assessments," stated the researchers from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia Neuropsychology Associates, and the Free Clinic of Central Virginia.

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How to Taste Dark Chocolate

My friend Amy sent me a link to this Wiki article.
This is really great for us Chocolate Lovers!

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

The actual flavor compounds found in dark chocolate exceed those of red wine, and detecting all these notes can be an extremely fun and educational endeavor. The following will serve as a guideline, so that you can extract the fullest flavor potential from dark chocolate.

Steps

1. Find a location free from background noise and smell , such as television, music, a crying baby, road traffic noise, talkative friends etc. Being able to concentrate as intently as possible will facilitate flavor detection.
   
2. Clear your palate. This means that your mouth should not contain residual flavors from a previous meal. Eat a wedge of apple or piece of bread if necessary. This is crucial in order to taste the subtleties of chocolate's complex flavor.
   
3. Make sure that the piece of chocolate is large enough to accommodate full evolution of the flavor profile. A piece too small may not allow you to detect every subtle nuance as the chocolate slowly melts. The important thing to remember is that flavor notes gradually evolve and unfold on the tongue rather than open up in one large package. So remember, don't think small here. 10g should be a minimum starting point.
   
4. Allow the chocolate to rest at room temperature before tasting. Cold temperatures will hinder your ability to detect the flavors. Some even advise that you rub the chocolate briefly between your fingers to coax the flavor. This procedure is optional.
   
5. Look at the chocolate. The surface should be free of blemishes such as white marks (called bloom). Observe the color and manufacturer's job at molding and tempering. Does the chocolate appear to have been crafted carefully or slovenly? The bar should have a radiant sheen. Chocolate comes in a multifarious brown rainbow with various tints, such as pinks, purples, reds, and oranges. What do you see?
   
6. Break the piece in half. It should resonate with a resounding "SNAP!" and exhibit a fine gradient along the broken edge. This is quality stuff!
   
7. Smell the chocolate, especially at the break point. The aroma is an important component of flavor. Inhaling will prime the tongue for the incoming chocolate. It also gives you a chance to pick up the various nuances of the aroma.
   
8. Place the chocolate on the tongue and allow it to arrive at body temperature. Let it melt. Chew it only to break it into small enough pieces that it begins to melt on its own. After all, we're tasting and not eating! This step is crucial, for it allows the cocoa butter to distribute evenly in the mouth, which mutes any astringencies or bitterness in the chocolate.
   
9. Observe the taste and texture. As the chocolate melts, concentrate on the flavors that are enveloping your tongue. Melting will release more volatile compounds for you to smell. Close your eyes, take notes, enjoy this moment of bliss, and bask in contentment. Texture can be the most obvious clue about the quality of a chocolate. Low quality chocolates will have a grainy almost cement-like texture.
   
10. Now the chocolate is nearing its finish. How has the flavor evolved? Is the chocolate bitter? Heavy? Light? Was the texture smooth or grainy? Do any changes in texture and flavor occur? Take note of how the chocolate leaves the palate. Is there a strong reminder lingering in your mouth, or does it quickly vanish? Note any metallic or unpleasant flavors in the finish. This is a sign of stale or lower quality chocolate.
    
11. Repeat the process with a different chocolate. The comparison will highlight the subtle flavor notes in each chocolate. Be sure to cleanse your palate thoroughly before tasting each different chocolate.
    

In a nutshell, find your "happy place," listen to it break, stare at it, smell it, and then eat the chocolate very slowly instead of eating the bar quickly.

Tips

• Dark chocolate (as opposed to other kinds of chocolate) is considered healthy, and recommended for daily consumption in small amounts to maintain a healthy heart and lower cholesterol.
  
• Dark chocolate is also an excellent energy source, because it releases slowly into the bloodstream and does not elevate insulin levels. (Indeed, dark chocolate has a GI rating of a mere 22.) As a result, the sustained energy it provides is ideal for endurance activities and even weight-training routines.
  
• If you don't like dark chocolate, start with a very mild dark chocolate such as 45-55% cacao. A good example of this is Bournville, an easily available brand (in the UK) with distinctive packaging. The packaging is a dark red. Mild dark chocolate will taste similar to milk chocolate and won't be too bitter. If you are more adventurous, you can get dark chocolates that go all the way up to 100% cacao (i.e., unsweetened).
  
• The formation of whitish spots, or bloom, on chocolate is due to a separation of some of the fat in the chocolate, caused when it is exposed to heat, and then it is cool again. While it affects the aesthetics of the chocolate somewhat, it isn't harmful to eat or use chocolate that has bloomed. Bloom is related to heat and humidity, so store chocolate in a cool, dry place free of odors.
  
• Remember that most of all, you should enjoy dark chocolate, and don't be too pretentious, because you'll turn people off instead of turning them on to dark chocolate.
  
• Here are some excellent brands to try: Omanhene, Michel Cluizel, Boehms, Perugina, Wedel, Domori, Amedei, Valrhona, Neuhaus, Marcolini, Lindt, Felchlin, Guittard, Scharffen Berger, Santander, Malagasy, Weiss, El Rey, Theo, Bonnat, Pralus, Cote D'or, Castelain, Slitti, Dagoba, Green and Black's, Bournville, Ghirardelli and Xocai.
  
• 
  
• Indeed, dark chocolate has as many, likely more, layers and nuances of taste, than wine. During a recent visit to wine country in Sonoma, California, I found a venu that pays such homage: Wine Country Chocolates (photo above). The establishment sports a small chocolate "tasting bar" in the spirit of wine tasting, and the flavors were marvelous!
  

Warnings

• While a little dark chocolate is good for you, a lot is not healthy. You need variation in your diet to get all the nutrients your body requires.
  
• If you are allergic to chocolate, then do not eat it.
  
• Chocolate contains the stimulant theobromine. (This stimulant is not present in Xocai chocolate products.) The physical onset of this stimulant is much slower than caffeine, so while chocolate may not keep you from falling asleep, your sleep may be disturbed in the middle of the night. Theobromine can easily cause epileptic seizures and potential death in dogs.
  
• Since chocolate is toxic to dogs, birds, and other animals, never feed chocolate to an animal.
  

Things You'll Need

• A good sense of taste
  
• Good Quality Dark chocolate
  
• An open mind
  
• A healthy attitude
  
• A tranquil spot or special event
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Make a Chocolate Bubble Bath
  
• How to Make Chocolate Dipped Spoons
  
• How to Make a Chocolate Bouquet
  
• How to Taste Single Malt Scotch
  
• How to Mold Chocolate Candy
  

Sources and Citations

• A WebMD.com article on the health benefits of dark chocolate
  
• SeventyPercent.com - Reviews, discussions, and articles about fine chocolate.
  
• Articles on the health benefits of dark chocolate on RealAge.com
  
• An article on the selection and storage of chocolate.
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Taste Dark Chocolate. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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