Valentines' Day is a Day for Special Gifts
Valentine's Day is a day when many loved ones will receive a gift of flowers and candy as well as a night out for dinner and possibly even a special extra little gift. It is a day that allows people to just show that special person in their life that they do love and appreciate them.
Candy is special on this day most likely as chocolate has always held a special place in peoples heart going back many years.
The cocoa bean requires warmer climates to grow and South and Central America are a large source of the world's supply of chocolate. In its early uses it was used as a fermented beverage, possibly an early version of chocolate schnapps.
The Aztecs used the cocoa bean as currency and for years would exact tribute form it's conquered natives in beans. The Aztecs also believed the bean had aphrodisiac properties. The bean contains a chemical called phenyl ethylamine which is released naturally in the body when a person falls in love. The aroma of chocolate can induce relaxation. This belief is still carried over today if evidenced by the number of boxes of chocolates purchased by many a person for their special mate.
Some of the other uses of chocolate are in medicine, as chocolate also contains dopamine, a natural painkiller. Chocolate is full of antioxidants, which serve all sorts of disease-fighting benefits in the body. Dark chocolate provides the greatest number of health benefits, as it contains flavonals, which stimulate the brain and support the circulatory system.
However, the chocolate is used, this writer intends to use some of its special powers to get an appreciative look from my wife on Valentines' Day.
I've already made my trip to Fascias Chocolates, in Waterbury CT to get a box of her favorite dark chocolate covered almonds.
Valentines' Day is a Day for Special Gifts
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