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acts are facts, even where
chocolate is concerned.
For instance, fact one:
true chocolate is a cocoa
paste derived from the
cacao bean. Fact two: The fruit of the cacao
tree (Theobroma cacao), a plant indigenous
to Central America and the Amazonian
regions of South America, bears the cacao
bean. Fact three: The Mayans (300-900 A.D.)
were the first chocolate aficionados. Fact
four: The Aztecs held cocoa in such high
regard that it was reserved for the rich. And
fact five: Cacao beans were used as currency
in Central American markets as late as 1858.
But these five facts don’t tell the whole
story, which is that chocolate inargu-ably
symbolizes love. And speaking of
stories of love and chocolate: In 1920, the
first Perugina chocolate store opened in
Perugia, Italy. Two years
later, Luisa Spagnoli,
the wife of Perugina’s
co-founder, began a
passionate love affair
with Giovanni Buitoni, heir
to Perugina. That same year, Luisa
invented the Italian Baci (meaning kisses),
a whipped milk chocolate blended with
chopped hazelnuts, topped with a whole
hazelnut and enrobed in silky, bittersweet
chocolate. In order to keep their love a
secret, Luisa wrote Giovanni love notes, and
wrapped them around the chocolate kisses
that she sent him for inspection. Today the
tradition of chocolate and love notes, espe-cially
at Valentine’s Day, is still strong.
If you’re on the fence about what to give
your sweetheart this February 14 and need
a couple of quotes from two pros in the
know, try these: now, head for your nearest
chocolatier: “Chocolate is sweet, sensuous
and delicious, just like the feelings associ-ated
with being in love,” says Charlene
Dupray, owner of South ‘n France Bon Bons.
“Chocolate is an elegant portion of sweet
comfort food that brightens your day,”
says Bruna Smith, owner of Just Because
Chocolates. “It’s a unique gift of love to that
special someone.” — Ashley Peel
F
Just Because Chocolates & South ´n France bon bons. Photo by Allison bREINER pOTTER .
valentine’s
day
a love affair with
chocolate