National Chocolate Day

National Chocolate Day History

National Chocolate Day celebrates chocolate and promotes its health benefits. Chocolate is a confection made from cacao seeds, which grow on cacao trees in the tropics. Seeds are removed from the their pods and then dried, roasted and ground into cocoa powder or paste, which is then mixed with other ingredients such as butters, oils, sweeteners, milk and flour to produce chocolate. Chocolate is a staple in the American diet, with sales of over 21 billion dollars in 2014.

National Chocolate Day is not an official celebration. It was created by the National Confectioners Association. According to the Association's webpage, there are actually 3 National Chocolate Days throughout the year, on July 7th, October 28th and December 28th.

National Chocolate Day facts & quotes

• There are approximately 1.5 million cocoa farms in West Africa, producing nearly 70% of the world's cocoa.
• Cote D'Ivoire, a country in West Africa, produces the most cocoa. The small nation supplies nearly 40% of the world's cocoa.
• It takes between 2 and 4 days to make one chocolate bar.
• All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt. - Charles M. Schulz
• My momma always said, life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get. - Forrest Gump

In the News and Trending for National Chocolate Day

Top things to do for National Chocolate Day

• Watch a movie about chocolate or a documentary about chocolate. Our favorites are: The Dark Side of Chocolate , Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , Nothing Like Chocolate and Coca-nomics.
• Try a healthy recipe to make your favorite chocolate bar at home. Chocolate bars sold on the shelves are full of artificial flavors, hydrogenated oils, preservatives and tons of added sugars. Try recipes that offer alternatives such as gluten free flours or cookies, unsweetened coconut flakes or dark chocolate dips.
• Attend a chocolate and wine pairing to learn more about how to bring out the best chocolates for which occasion.
• Ride the free chocolate tour at the one of the largest chocolate factories in the world located in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Take a moment and shop at Hershey's Chocolate World and visit HersheyPark to ride the roller coasters.
• Try a new variety of chocolate. Milk, dark, white, or sweet chocolate are some of the more popular varieties sold. In addition, you can purchase those chocolate varieties with an infinite number of toppings or fillings.