1. The ancient Mayans used cocoa beans as currency. Their cultivation was restricted to prevent inflation.
2. Chocolate melts at just below human blood temperature, which is why it is so mouth-meltingly satisfying.
3. It takes about 400 cacao beans to make one pound of chocolate.
4. The official world record for eating two pounds of chocolate candy bars is six minutes.
5. In 2013, Belgium issued over 500,000 postage stamps with the smell of cocoa and covered in a varnish to look like chocolate.
6. Under US law, 100gm of chocolate must not contain more than 60 insect parts on average.
7. Research has shown that hot chocolate tastes best in orange coloured cups.
8. “To a Coffee-house to drink Jocolatte, very good.” (Samuel Pepys diary, November 24, 1664).
9. Last year, the British ate more chocolate per person than any other nation.
10. According to Wikipedia, World Chocolate Day celebrations “include the consumption of chocolate”. What a good idea!