The Chemistry of Chocolate

The cocoa in chocolate comes from cacao beans, grown only 15 degrees north or south of the equator.

Where does our chocolate come from?

• Most of our chocolate comes from the Ivory Coast and Ghana, but it is grown in South America also
• Cacao makes up 64% of exports in Ghana

Who grows cacao?

• 4.2 million cacao farms, usually run by families

C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ → C₂H₅OH → CH₃COOH

Sugar –> Ethyl alcohol –> Acetic acid

Environmental effects of cacao

• Contributes to global warming, produces CO2
• Farms cause deforestation
• Herbicides are used to meet demands

What is fair trade?

• Fair trade refers to chocolate that is made with fair labor practices
• Some farms use child labor

Chocolate production involves lots of shipping and wrappers, which is not great for the environment

Health benefits of chocolate

• Lowers blood pressure
• Dark chocolate helps heart health
• Has lots of fiber and antioxidants

Negative health effects of chocolate

• Mild stimulant, caffeine and sugar
• Weight gain

Chocolate has a complicated production, that takes years to make.

Make good choices when choosing chocolate brands, and limit how much you eat.

Remember that a lot more goes into chocolate than just growing it.

From now on, I'll try to buy chocolate that falls under fair trade. Mars brand, for one, is.

As delicious as it is, I will try to use it a bit more sparingly, in order to sustain positive growing techniques

Sources

• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/28/chocolate-health-benefits_n_138337...
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_effects_of_chocolate
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_effects_of_cocoa_production
• http://www.decodedscience.com/chocolate-chemistry-cacao-to-cocoa/41546
• http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/how-ethical-is-your-chocolat...