Being at a computer makes us crave chocolate

Computers can make you fat - and not just from lack of exercise! Research shows that staring at a computer screen makes us work up an appetite for sweet treats like chocolate cake and biscuits. It is thought that the mental stress of computer work triggers changes in blood sugar and hormone levels that trick the brain into thinking it has worked off lots of calories that need replaced.

Chocolate maker gives haggis the sweet treatment

The Guardian reports that Thinking Chocolate, an Edinburgh-based chocolate maker, has given Scotland's national dish a cocoa-tinged makeover. Haggis-flavoured chocolates were originally prouced for a Burns' Night supper but the guests were so complimentary that they have started selling them commercially. However, there is no offal in the truffles. Instead, the chocolatier recreates the flavour of haggis by combining nutmeg, mace, black pepper and oatmeal.

The Towns That Chocolate Built

A blog post (from Edible Geography) discussing the impact of the Cadbury and Rowntree businesses on urban and social geography:

"chocolate’s architectural expression merits further study, as a lens through which to understand its cultural history"

Win Chocolate for Fairtrade Fortnight

A competition for all chocolate lovers! All Divine chocolate products are Fairtrade certified and to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight 2010 Divine have a hamper worth £100, filled with all chocolate-y goodies to giveaway. Details of all Divine competitions can be found here.

Chocolate: the terrible truth

"There is nothing quite like it... Chocolate. A remarkable product. Sold all over the world in vast quantities. But there is a problem. You can't see it when you buy your favourite snack but there is a terrible truth..."

Read more in an article by Ruth Dearnley, CEO of Stop the Traffik.

“…if I owned a chocolate company...”

Today is National Poetry Day.

Divine, the chocolate company owned by cocoa farmers, is delighted to announce the eighth annual national Divine Poetry Competition in association with Christian Aid. This year the mouthwatering theme is “…if I owned a chocolate company...” and the guest judge is top author Anthony Horowitz. This hugely popular nationwide competition which attracts thousands of entries each year. is open to all ages. The deadline for entries is Monday 21st December and the winners of great Divine prizes will be announced at the end of January 2010.

Divine and partner Christian Aid are asking aspiring poets to write a poem imagining how wonderful it would be to own their own chocolate company. They are asked to consider what sorts of delicious chocolate products they would make & sell as well as thinking about how they would ensure the cocoa farmers received a fair deal. Alternatively entrants can think about what it would be like for cocoa farmers to own their own chocolate company (like Divine) and what this would mean for the lives of their families & communities.

Divine competition

Divine Fairtrade chocolate will be launching a new flavour in stores inthe autumn: 70% Dark Chocolate with Raspberries will join the range in September.

To become one of the first to try the rich dark chocolate infused with real zesty raspberries, enter the competition to win an exclusive bar. Closing date is 31 July.

Guilt and chocolate

Last year we discovered a church that encouraged its parishioners to buy chocolate during Lent! This year, it is scientific research on guilt and chocolate bars. The Development of the Attitudes to Chocolate Questionnaire is a cheap, fairly accurate way to measure chocolate craving and also to measure guilt. Reporting on the use of this tool, the researchers announce that they made an exciting new psychological discovery: that "craving but not guilt was associated with the eating of chocolate bars".

Top-selling chocolate to go Fairtrade

Cadbury and the Fairtrade Foundation today announced yesterday their plans to achieve Fairtrade certification for Cadbury Dairy Milk, the nation’s top selling chocolate bar, by end of Summer 2009. This groundbreaking move will result in the tripling of sales of cocoa under Fairtrade terms for cocoa farmers in Ghana, both increasing Fairtrade cocoa sales for existing certified farming groups, as well as opening up new opportunities for thousands more farmers to benefit from the Fairtrade system.

More posts on Fairtrade matters

Chocolate Week 2008

Today sees the start of Chocolate Week 2008 - a week of "pure chocolate indulgence", according to the organisers. How about sharing some chocolate happiness as well as indulging yourself by making and sharing some Divine chocolate recipes? If you buy Fairtrade then you ensure the producers get a fair deal, too - as the video reminds us.

Virtual chocolate

Divine is the Fairtrade Chocolate Company co-owned by the cocoa farmers cooperative Kuapa Kokoo in Ghana, who not only receive a fair price for their cocoa but also share in the company's profit. Watch the 30 second You Tube Movie about Divine Chocolate.

Special chocolate for Lent

Have you given up chocolate for Lent? One church has linked up with a chocolate company to encourage its parishioners to buy chocolate during Lent! The St Paul's Knightsbridge Lent Appeal brings together local businesses, including Rococo's recently opened Belgravia shop, to offer The Absolution Bar. For the 40 days of Lent you can buy the Absolution Bar (500g of 65% dark chocolate) for £15 with 50% going straight to the local Lent Appeal. The partnership between the local church and local businesses enables one of the world's wealthiest corners to raise money for some of the world's poorest and most vulnerable people.