Easter Treats – Chocolate Making Workshop

April 8, 2011 - PRLog -- This sweet, delicious treat can be traced right back to the ancient Mayan and Aztec civilisations in Central America where ‘Theobroma cacao’ (food of the gods) was prized by the Central American Mayan Indians. They originally enjoyed a much-loved spicy drink called ‘chocolatl’ which was of course made from roasted cocoa beans. Incredibly, chocolate was created specifically for drinking only until early Victorian times when a technique for making solid edible chocolate was devised.

A fact which still remains today is that chocolate in virtually all of its forms, is one of the most sought-after confectionary items in the world. Whilst we all commonly know chocolate as a scrumptious decadent desert present in cookies, cakes, bars, sauces and many other desserts, the lesser known facts about chocolate are that it is used by many cultures as a sacred symbol in religious ceremonies, and also for a multitude of medicinal purposes. But whether you’re interested in chocolate for its use in cooking, faith or physical health, the overwhelming demand for this sweet treat is showing no signs of subsiding.

This special day out will provide you with the true story behind the creation of your Easter Eggs (http://www.redletterdays.co.uk/Experience/Ref/MONEA/Red-L...), and highlight just how much work is involved in making this tasty delight. Our immediate thoughts behind the creation of chocolate tend to reflect the famous scenes from the 1971 Charlie & The Chocolate Factory; an assembly line process where clever automatic machines pop out candies onto white conveyor belts much quicker than any human could. However, before cacao even reaches any sort of machinery, it has to pass through the hands of a farmer in a distinctly old-fashioned, laborious way.

Not unlike other agricultural crops, cacao must be very closely monitored by farmers who must frequently walk their fields checking for pests, molds or any other diseases that might potentially harm the entire harvest. Incredibly, a farmer must also spend 3-5 years caring for young cacao trees before they will even product their first yield.

Chocolate is entirely unavoidable at this time of year, so if you can’t beat them, join them! This excellent chocolate-making workshop (http://www.redletterdays.co.uk/Experience/Ref/XCDTC/A-Cho...) is available this Easter for you to delve in and experience a hands-on approach to making your very own chocolate. A master Chocolatier will talk you through the history of this delectable sweet before guiding you in creating your very own finest quality Belgian chocolates. A selection of the available venues also have fantastic chocolate fountains for you to sample, so it is recommended to ensure you are not too full before arriving!

Get mixing, moulding, dipping and decorating your very own chocolates before wrapping them beautifully in paper and ribbons of your choice, either as a gift or simply to keep at home for a much-needed treat. Whatever you do, don’t turn up in your best clothing as melted chocolate (http://www.redletterdays.co.uk/Experience/Ref/CAKCM/A-Cho...) has a tendency to end up everywhere!

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