Chocolate (pronounced /tklt, -lt/ (help�info); see below for etymology) comprises a number of raw and processed foods that originate from the seed of the tropical cacao tree. It is a common ingredient in many kinds of confections such as chocolate bars, candy, ice cream, cookies, cakes, pies, chocolate mousse, and other desserts. It is one of the most popular (or at least recognizable) flavours in the world. Chocolate was created by the Mesoamerican civilization, from cacao beans, and cultivated by pre-Columbian civilizations such as the Maya and Aztec, who used it as a basic component in a variety of sauces and beverages. The cocoa beans were ground and mixed with water to produce a variety of beverages, both sweet and bitter, which were reserved for only the highest noblemen and clerics of the Mesoamerican world. Chocolate is made from the fermented, roasted, and ground beans taken from the pod of the tropical cacao tree, Theobroma cacao, which was native to Central America and Mexico, but is now cultivated throughout the tropics. The beans have an intensely flavoured bitter taste. The resulting products are known as 'chocolate' or, in some parts of the world, cocoa. Today, chocolate commonly refers to bars made from the combination of cocoa solids, fat, sugar and other ingredients. Chocolate is often produced as small molded forms in the shape of squares, animals, people, or inanimate objects to celebrate festivals worldwide. For example, there are moulds of rabbits or eggs for Easter, coins for Hanukkah, Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) for Christmas, and hearts for Valen
Wikipedia
Raisins are dried grapes. They are produced in many regions of the world, such as the United States, Australia, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Togo, Jamaica, and South Africa. Raisins may be eaten raw or used in cooking and baking. Contents 1 Etymology 2 Varieties 3 Nutritional value 4 Sweetness 5 References 6 See also 7 External links Etymology The word raisin dates back to Middle English and is a loanword from Old French; in Old French and French, raisin means 'grape', while a raisin in French is called a raisin sec, a 'dry grape'. The Old French word in turn developed from Latin racemus, 'a bunch of grapes'. The origin of the Latin word is unclear. Varieties Raisin varieties depend on the type of grape used. Seedless varieties include Thompsons, Flames, and Sultana. Raisins are typically sun-dried, but may also be 'water-dipped', or dehydrated. 'Golden raisins' are treated with Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) to give them their characteristic color. A particular variety of seedless grape, the Black Corinth, is also sun dried to produce Zante currants, mini raisins that are much darker in color and have a tart, tangy flavour.
Wikipedia
Chocolate Raisins Day
E-Cards - Send Chocolate Raisins Day Greeting Card!
Send An E-Card For
Any Occasion
flashgreetingscards.com 2006 ©
All Rights Reserved free greeting cards Free
eCards
|
|
|
|
