On December 16th, a chocolate holiday defrosts our hearts to celebrate the love for anything covered in chocolate. National Chocolate Covered Anything Day is a day for anyone to indulge in their favorite chocolate-dipped treats.
Covering food in chocolate isn’t a new idea. Archaeologists found evidence of Mesoamericans covering their fruits and berries with cacao. There was also evidence found of the Aztecs coating fruits like cherries and plums. Later in the 1860s, chocolate-covered strawberries were popularized due to the fact that people could store things like berries for longer with the fresh invention of fridges. Now you can find almost anything chocolate-covered.
¨My favorite is frozen chocolate-covered strawberries,¨ senior Tamiea Palmer said. ¨I like how you can taste the frozenness on your teeth.¨
Studies have shown that dark chocolate has a direct impact on your brain: it contains phenylethylamine, the same chemical that your brain creates when you’re happy. Similarly, it is also a source of serotonin, which you can use to uplift your mood on this chocolate-inspired day.
¨I really love it. Milk chocolate is too sweet,¨ English teacher at Central High School, Teacher Choi said. ¨I’ve heard chocolate overall makes you happier, but I didn´t know dark chocolate boosts your serotonin levels.¨
Many beloved things can be covered in chocolate; the most popular chocolate-covered food in Illinois is chocolate-covered raisins. Some of the other state favorites are bacon, pickles, almonds, pretzels, peanuts, and more.
¨I like Reeses because of the coconaness of the chocolate flavors go very well with the peanut butteriness of peanut butter,¨ freshman Esosa Ogbebor said.
On National Chocolate Covered Anything Day, celebrate your love by eating your favorite type of chocolate. Whether it’s dark-dark, milk, or white chocolate, don’t forget to dare to dip it into something new.