美味的秘密 : 10個朱古力「冷知識」

Fun side of chocolate

 

(資料來源 : 知識雜誌;Issue 10 (October, 2022))

 

每逢節日或紀念,朱古力往往是不可缺少的美食。世界上甚至有專門紀念朱古力的節日。這裡簡單列舉

朱古力可能鮮為人知的 10 個趣事,看看你了解嗎? 

No other treat is enjoyed like chocolate in such quantities, across the globe, alongside

almost every celebration. It has its own celebration day (actually multiple days).

Today, we are going to go a little deeper into the fun side of chocolate,

unveiling 10 sweet facts you (probably) never know!

 

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世界朱古力日 World Chocolate Day

 

7月7日是世界朱古力,據說是為紀念1550年7月7日朱古力首次被帶到歐洲。但其實,不同的國家或

地區還有類似紀念日,比如將7月28日定為牛奶朱古力日。

7 July is World Chocolate Day, a nod to when chocolate was said to have been first brought

to Europe on 7 July, 1550. Actually, there are multiple celebrations of chocolate each year,

such as Milk Chocolate Day (28 July).

 


 

可可豆曾被當作貨幣使用 

 

大約14至16世紀生活在墨西哥的阿茲特克人非常喜愛和重視可可豆。在阿茲特克文明高峰期,曾將

可可豆當作貨幣來使用。

The Aztecs, the Native American people who lived in Mexico from the 14th to 16th century,

loved and valued the cocoa bean so highly that they used it as currency during the height

of their civilization.

 


 

白朱古力不是朱古力

 

從嚴格意義上來說,白朱古力不算朱古力。因為白朱古力不含固體可可,也不含可可漿。不過白朱古力

中確實有可可豆的成分,主要是可可脂。

Because it doesn’t contain cocoa solids or chocolate liquor, white chocolate isn’t chocolate in

the strict sense. But it does contain parts of the cocoa bean – mainly cocoa butter.

 


 

最早的朱古力熱飲

 

朱古力熱飲可以追溯到早期墨西哥和阿茲特克文化,但與今天香甜幼滑的朱古力不同,最初朱古力飲品

有些苦澀,常用於婚禮等正式場合。

Cocoa was first brewed in both Mexican and Aztec culture, though the result was nothing

like today’s hot chocolate – it was a typically bitter concoction that was often used for

ceremonial occasions like weddings.

 


 

英國糖果商發明了固態朱古力

 

1847年英國朱古力製造商 J.S. Fry & Sons 用可可脂、糖和可可漿調製出「可以吃的朱古力」,是一種

顆粒狀的固態甜食.

The J.S. Fry & Sons shop concocted what they called 「eating chocolate」 in 1847 by

combining cocoa butter, sugar, and chocolate liquor. This was a grainy, solid form of the

treat.

 


 

大多數可可豆產自非洲

 

儘管可可豆源於亞馬遜河流域,但世界上近70%的可可豆都產自非洲。作為最大可可豆生產國,

科特迪瓦供應全球約30%的可可豆。

Despite its Amazonian roots, most cocoa – nearly 70 percent of the world’s supply — comes

from Africa. Côte d’lvoire is the largest single providing about 30 percent of all the world’s cocoa.

 


 

傳說拿破侖很愛吃朱古力

 

有一個廣為流傳的故事,就是拿破侖在打仗時隨身攜帶朱古力來提神。

The popular story is that Napoleon was known to carry chocolate with him on military

campaigns for an energy boost.

 


 

可可樹壽命可達100年

 

可可樹的壽命也許聽起來很驚人,但是這種熱帶植物只25年可以生產可可豆。

That may sound impressive, but the tropical beauties only make cocoa beans for only

25 years during their lifespan.

 


 

牛奶朱古力是瑞士發明的

 

經過長達8年的反覆試驗,丹尼爾。皮特終於在1875年發明了美味的牛奶朱古力。而配方成功的關鍵

原料是煉奶。

After eight years of trying, Daniel Peter created the tasty treat in 1875 and made his recipe

work. Condensed milk ended up being the key ingredient.

 


 

朱古力的熔點比較特殊

 

據美國國會圖書館的資料顯示,朱古力的熔點在30到32攝氏度之間,比人的體溫還要低一點。

這就是為甚麼如果你吃得不夠快,你最愛朱古力棒就會在你的手中熔化。

According to the Library of Congress, chocolate has a melting point between 30°C and 32°C,

which is just below the human body temperature. That’s why your favorite candy bar will

melt in your hands if you don’t eat it fast enough.