Here’s a little chocolate history lesson. It’s not too long, I promise! 😉 Then you’ll find some delectable, delicious, plant-based chocolate recipes for your Valentine’s Day (or any day) celebration!
Valentine’s Day + Chocolate = Love💕
Have you ever wondered how the marriage of Valentine’s Day and Chocolate began? As I started working on this week’s chocolate blog post, I found myself wondering just how chocolate became an important part of the Valentine’s Day celebration. Here’s what I discovered.
A very brief history of chocolate
Chocolate has a long history of being a ‘love food’.[1] Its roots go back to the Mayan and Aztec times. Chocolate was a highly-prized luxury item! Cacao beans were as valuable as gold and were even used to pay taxes! During that time period, the upper-class people enjoyed a drink made from roasted & ground cacao beans, vanilla, honey, chilies, and…. cornmeal!? It sounded really tasty until the mention of cornmeal, but I guess I shouldn’t knock it until I’ve tried it. 🙄
Valentine’s Day
The true origins of Valentine’s Day are a bit of a mystery. Historians say it was originally known as the “Roman festival of Lupercalia”. It was an ancient pagan celebration of fertility. That event took place on February 15th each year.
During the 5th century and following the Christianisation of the Roman Empire, the holiday was ‘rebranded’ by Pope Gelasius I. At that time, it became a celebration of St. Valentine (a Roman Catholic saint). The Pope changed the date to February 14th so it wouldn’t get mixed up with the original pagan holiday.
In the time of the 14th century, St. Valentine finally became associated with romance. And when Shakespeare’s wrote, A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the late 1500’s, he suggested that two single people who meet on February 14th will likely end-up getting married.
Chocolates in Heart-Shaped Boxes
Jump ahead a few centuries to the 1800’s when Victoria was Queen. Folks enjoyed showering their loved ones with “Cupid-bedecked gifts and cards” for Valentine’s day.[2] It was during that same time period, a man named Richard Cadbury (hmm…that name sounds familiar), created “eating chocolates” and put them in boxes he had designed. In 1861, Cadbury started putting hearts and cupids on heart-shaped boxes filled with chocolates.
So that my friends, is my very brief history of how Valentine’s Day met and married Chocolate. 💗 Now, when my husband tries to tell me the holiday was started by Hallmark, just to make money–I’ll be armed with the real facts in my defense. 🌺🌹😉
And finally… the
Chocolate Mocha Vegan Ice Cream
This dairy-free, vegan ice cream is so easy to make. Thick and creamy, your entire family will love this yummy chocolate treat!
Chocolate Chia Pudding
This plant-based chocolate pudding is yummy stuff! The added chia seeds are not only what makes the pudding set, they are very good for you too!
Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
Rich and delicious, you’d never guess these chocolate, fat-free muffins are also plant-based. Kids and adults love them for snacks or dessert!
Chocolate Mocha Mousse Pie
A truly decadent chocolate pie! It has a secret ingredient that makes it especially rich and creamy! Hard to believe it is completely plant-based!
Chocolate Chip Brownie Cake
This rich and moist vegan chocolate cake is so simple and quick to make! Your guests will love it and it will become a favorite go-to dessert!
Chocolate Hummus
This chocolate dessert hummus is a pleasant and delicious surprise! Kids love this stuff and don’t even realize it’s made with beans.
Chocolate-Dipped Cookie Dough Truffles
These vegan, dark chocolate-dipped cookie dough truffles are rich and decadent. Serve with ripe strawberries for the perfect ending to an elegant dinner.
Wrapping it up
Chocolate is good for you, delicious, and has a long history. Plus, it is the perfect mate for Valentine’s Day! I hope you enjoy these recipes. I’d love to hear which is your favorite in the comments below!
Visit these websites for more history information:
[1] https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-americas/history-of-chocolate
[2] https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-chocolate-and-valentines-day-mated-life-180954228/
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Thanks Jodi! 🙂