this thread is like a rainbow!

Dark chocolate sales double in two years

 

For years we have largely managed to resist its smooth, bitter-sweet charms.

 

 

But now it seems the tastebuds of more and more Britons are being tantalised by dark chocolate.

 

Sales have almost doubled in two years to reach £85million last year, a report revealed yesterday.

 

 

Consumers are buying more of the dark variety because of its healthier image, according to the market research analysts Mintel.

 

 

Senior analyst Mathilde Dudouit said: 'Although dark chocolate is still high in sugar, it is rich in antioxidants and is lower in fat than milk chocolate.

 

 

'Dark chocolate now has the reputation as being a healthier alternative to other chocolate and this has really struck a chord with Britain's chocoholics.'

 

 

Mintel's report said dark chocolate is considered the healthier option because of its high cacao content.

 

First cultivated by the ancient Mayans, cacao is considered to be one of the world's most beneficial 'superfoods' due to its high content of antioxidants.

 

Sales of 'luxury' chocolate also soared in the same period, rising by 46 per cent from 2005 to 2007.

 

Miss Dudouit said: 'Brits may not be eating chocolate as often as they used to, but they are certainly splashing out more on premium varieties.

 

 

'The trick today is to eat less, but to go all out when indulging so that it really is a luxurious treat.'

 

 

The success of dark and luxury brands has reinvigorated the flagging chocolate market, which enjoyed a 10 per cent increase in value in the two years to 2007.

 

Between 2003 and 2005, it grew by a mere 1 per cent.

 

 

With a further 5 per cent growth expected in 2008 alone, the British chocolate market should be worth £2.23billion by the end of the year. These trends are predicted to continue long into the future, with sales of chocolate expected to grow by 17 per cent in the five years to 2013.

 

 

Despite the success of dark chocolate, sales of milk chocolate remain way ahead. They are currently worth around £1.4billion.

 

>According to Mintel, a niche area that could expand is combining chocolate with wine. It suggests upmarket bars could offer a choice of the finest chocolate to go with their best wine or champagne.

 

 

Miss Dudouit said: 'In the same way that wine-lovers deliberate over different grape varieties, single - estate chocolate and chocolate made from different types of cocoa beans provide a real opportunity for the true chocolate connoisseur.'

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/diets/article-1031694/Bitter-sweet-Dark-chocolate-sales-double-years.html

Naah, I dont like healthy food :smug:

I like both... Especially dark chocolate covered cherries! mmmmmm

Go for the organic varieties - they pickle them cherries in some pretty strange brine!;)

 

Yes, Endorphines! (well, endorphine analogs in all likelihood. The theobromine then is either that, or a stimulant found in chocolate?). Although, the runner's high is in part from Adrenalin, is it not? Either way, the best is to enjoy it, and do some running/dancing/climbing then!

The natural antioxidants found in chocolate are in a class of chemicals called phenols, technically speaking. (some phenols you wouldn't want to touch with a 10-foot pole!)

Shade grown is best, as it allows for more birds in the canopy above..

Chuck knows his chocolate.;)

I dont hate dark chocolates. I just love milky one more. :wink2:

Sounds good too!:) Actually, when one thinks of it, chocolate is an international food - the cocoa nibs are from Africa & S. America, the sugar can be from beets or cane: (European, N. American, or S. American), and the milk for the milk chocolate comes from dairy cows - European or American. And the cashew nuts they dip in chocolate come from Malaysia and Indonesia!;)

And the cashew nuts they dip in chocolate come from Malaysia and Indonesia

 

:stunned: :shocked3:

Really??

Chuck knows his chocolate.;)

 

Yes - I reckon he should change his name to Chock!!:rolleyes:

Chock?? Thank god the letter H is there :D

Kidding :)

Chock?? Thank god the letter H is there :D

 

:stunned:

 

This isn't the Perv thread, you know!!:rolleyes:

:stunned: :shocked3:

Really??

Yes! That tidbit from a friend in Indonesia..

(actually, there's a lot of nuts, and they're from all over!:laugh3:)

This isn't the Perv thread' date=' you know!![/quote']

:D :D

 

Yes! That tidbit from a friend in Indonesia..

(actually, there's a lot of nuts, and they're from all over!:laugh4:)

Oh, i didnt know that Southeast Asian countries are famous with their own nuts! :) Thanks for the info, chuckie! :nice:

Yes! That tidbit from a friend in Indonesia..

(actually, there's a lot of nuts, and they're from all over!:laugh3:)

 

I know - we get a fair few of them turning up on Coldplaying!!:P

I know one of em!

I know one of em!

 

Do you mean the Rickster??:rolleyes:

Uhmmm I didnt say anything... :rolleyes3: :D

 

 

 

 

 

But... I think.. err.. let me think first :sneaky: :P

Uhmmm I didnt say anything... :rolleyes3: :D

 

 

 

 

 

But... I think.. err.. let me think first :sneaky: :P

 

I'll take it as read, then.;)

Haha!

I have just bought this chocolate:

 

 

Who of you would eat it?:freak:

 

hahaha it doesn't even taste like chocolate anymore

Extra kräftig ... ewwww. :freak:

hahahaha I had to get that...:freak:

Eurgh, i hate dark chocolate - it's too rich for me. :sick:

Why did you have to get that? :freak: