It's Chocolate Time
The eggs are out in force, lining the supermarket shelves in their bright, glistening foil coats. They come in all shapes and sizes, and in a multitude of chocolate varieties, from the very dark and bitter to the sickly sweet and pale.
At French Living we are setting a new Easter chocolate trend, and true to form we are keeping it very French, very chic, and with your good health in mind!
Our new chocolate bars, Petits Carreaux de Paris, created by a young Parisian couple in 2015, blend artisan chocolate production with Parisian architecture!
The design of the bar is in the form of the tiles found in the Paris Metro - a chic design from the Belle Epoque of the 1900's.
The highest quality beans are used, with a minimum of 70% cocoa. So this means they are good for you! Oui, oui, true story.
You must have heard about the health benefits of chocolate - I am talking about le chocolat in its purest form, namely cacao. Theobroma cacao, the food of the gods, has been used as food, medicine, and even currency for thousands of years. In its pure form, raw cacao is an amazing source of antioxidants, protecting us from free radicals, helping to keep us vibrant and healthy. Antioxidants may act to counteract the effects of exposure to stress, pollution, chemicals, and other unhealthy stuff. Cacao is also a wonderful source of magnesium (which many of us are deficient in) and one of the highest plant-based food sources of iron. It contains chemical compounds that increase our ability to focus and improves our memory, and it contains anandamide, the “bliss molecule,” which helps us to feel good, longer. It also contains phenylethylamine, “the love molecule,” which raise the level of endorphins in our brain, very similar to the chemical changes that make us feel on top of the world when we are falling in love.
“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.”— Charles M. Schulz
However, this does not give you the green light to stock up your cupboards with any old chocolate bar, particularly the typical commercial brands that have been highly processed, heated, alkalized, and contain sugars, preservatives, artificial flavours, and other undesirable additives. It is important to look for chocolate that is above 70 percent concentration of dark chocolate (like our Petits Carreaux de Paris). The higher the concentration, the more bitter, and the more nutritional value and healing effects it will have.
If bitterness is not your thing, try consuming it with fruit, some nuts, or even cheese! Red wine is also a rather lovely combination with our Petits Carreaux.
Remember that chocolate is a stimulant, and best eaten in moderation. Pay attention to how it makes you feel and that will help you decide when and if to eat it.
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”— Hippocrates