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Saturday 1st of April 2023

Nairobi, Kenya

How Chocolate Became An Essential For Valentine’s Day

How Chocolate Developed Into a Valentine’s Day Must-Have
Is it due to the purported aphrodisiac properties of chocolate, or is it just a way for candy manufacturers to increase their sales of sweets during the slow period between Christmas and Easter?
Many lovers around the world associate Valentine’s Day with conversation hearts, an abundance of truffles, and chocolate boxes in the shape of hearts.
Nevertheless, where did this custom originate? Valentine’s Day originated in Roman times, although presenting chocolates as gifts is a much more recent phenomenon.
Valentine’s Day is actually named after two distinct Roman saints by the same name who had nothing to do with romantic love.

There is no evidence to support the persistent tradition that the first St. Valentine was a priest who performed illegitimate weddings for Emperor Claudius’ soldiers.
Geoffrey Chaucer first made reference to St. Valentine’s Day as a love occasion in his writings in 1382.
The focus on illegal but chaste courtly love changed during the medieval era, and it is at this point that some of the well-known iconographies start to appear.
Knights would present roses to their maidens and sing songs of praise for their beauty from a distance.
There was no thought of trading sweet gifts because sugar was still a valuable commodity in Europe.

Who Was the First Person to Create a Valentine’s Day Chocolate Box?
The majority of the English-speaking world had adopted the idea of Valentine’s Day as a festival honoring romantic love by the 1840s.

The Victorian era, with its strict social mores, was Cupid’s heyday. People lavished each other with expensive cards and presents and cherished the idea of courtly love.
Richard Cadbury, a British chocolate manufacturer and heir of a prominent family, entered this love-obsessed conflict and was in charge of sales at the time.
In order to obtain pure cocoa butter from whole beans, Cadbury recently updated their chocolate-making process.

As a result, the drinking chocolate it produced was more delicious than most Britons had ever experienced.

As a result of this procedure, there was extra cocoa butter, which Cadbury used to make a lot more types of what was then referred to as “eating chocolate.” Richard began selling the new chocolates in exquisitely painted boxes that he himself created after recognizing a fantastic marketing opportunity for them.
From there, it was a short step to placing the well-known pictures of Cupids and roses on heart-shaped boxes.
Even though Richard Cadbury didn’t actually patent the heart-shaped box, many people think he was the first to make one
The boxes, according to Cadbury’s marketing, serve two purposes: The box itself was so lovely that it could be used repeatedly to preserve keepsakes, from tresses of hair to tokens of affection, after the chocolates had been consumed.

Up until the start of World War II, the boxes became more and more complex.
Cadbury boxes from the Victorian era do, however, still exist, and many of them are priceless treasures cherished by collectors or beloved family heirlooms.

Content courtesy of History, Chicamastyle & NFH 

 

 

 

 

Aphrodisiac Corner

Better late than never. On Valentines Day, lots of sweet vibes are in the air and you need a little aphrodisiac.

These are foods that stimulates sexual desire and they don’t taste bad either. So here’s a list of what you should be snacking on.

Strawberries, looking a perfect red heart, it’s an edible Valentine. Rich in antioxidants & Vitamin C that helps increase blood flow

Dark Chocolate, it tastes makes you feel happy and releases endorphins. It almost feels like you’re falling in love.

Red Wine, it contains anti-oxidants and has masculine notes just like male pheromones. Also, it increases a woman’s’ desire to be with a man.

Saffron, it increases sexual desire. A long time ago, people believed that if a woman ate for a week then her lover would find irresistible.

Hot Chilies, when eaten they help you release endorphins and make you feel happy. Besides, they’ll help raise your body temperature & get you in the mood to strip down to your bare essentials.

Avocado, it promotes sexual health because it’s rich in beta carotene, magnesium and vitamin E. It’s also shaped like a woman’s uterus especially when cut in half.

Bananas, its packed with potassium & B vitamins and they help with sexual hormone production. Indian fertility gods are offered bananas as sacrifices.

Pomegranates, it’s a symbol of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. RIch in Vitamin C and anti-oxidants. Helping men suffering from erectile dsyfunction improve their performance.

Vanilla, it smells amazing and its aroma will make you feel sensuous. You can use it in your bath to get you in the mood.

Honey, the nectar of Aphrodite. It’s a sensual experience eating honey since its sticky and sweet. It has a nutrient called Boron that helps increase sexual energy.

Coffee, it acts as an automatic stimulant on a daily basis. It excites the body, mind, mood & other things.

Pineapple, it feels sweet & juicy going down your throat. Loaded with Vitamin C so that you feel like you’re on seventh heaven and rich in antioxidants. It has manganese that fights impotence in men.

Marijuana, it can be a potent aphrodisiac that increases sexual pleasure. However, it can also decrease sexual arousal & lead to a low sperm count.

 

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