Raw Chocolate - The Healthiest Chocolate In The World?

Raw chocolate - also known as 'cacao' - is, as its name suggests, chocolate that hasn't undergone the usual heating processes applied to all other forms of chocolate, including the organic kind.

This means that the end product, pretty much identical to normal chocolate in taste and consistency, has at least four times (and up to as much as seven times) the antioxidant content of dark chocolate. Interestingly, this makes it one of the most antioxidant-rich foods on the planet.

Cacao is absolutely choc full (excuse the pun) of feel good factors and therefore gives this wonderful sustained happy high for most people who eat it. Processed chocolate has some of them (which is why it has the reputation for giving us that 'in love' feeling) but in considerably smaller quantities. For instance, raw chocolate is 33% richer in PEA, the substance that gives us that feeling of being in love. It also contains significant levels of anandamide, known as the 'bliss chemical' and factors which slow down anandamide's breakdown, so we stay happy for longer. It's also a good source of tryptophan which the brain uses to make serotonin which in turn creates a feeling of euphoria. Then there's arginine, known as 'nature's viagra' and magnesium and sulphur, important nutrients most of us are deficient in and which, among other things, help us relax. It's no wonder raw chocolate can make many people feel distinctly trippy!

So where can you get this wonder food from? Well, it is already possible to buy a range of delicious raw chocolate bars from some health food shops, or alternatively, online (see Resources at the end of this article). These bars are all made using natural low GI sweeteners, so they have the added benefit of being sugar-free (and are also dairy-free so suitable for vegans and those with a dairy intolerance).

Or you can have a go at making your own creations: you can buy raw chocolate powder, raw cacao butter (cocoa butter) and cacao nibs from some health food shops or purchase them online and have fun experimenting with recipes.

And if you need some help with recipe ideas, my company Sweet Sensations holds regular Chocolate Workshops in London, UK in which you can learn a range of easy, no-cook truffle and dessert recipes (all completely sugar, dairy and wheat-free so great for those with food intolerances). We will also shortly be publishing a recipe book and launching our own range of raw chocolate sugar, dairy and wheat-free truffles.

Click on http://www.sweetsensations.uk.com to take you to our website where we give you a free, very easy chocolate truffle recipe you can make for yourself.

Wine Tasting - Seven Tips For A Successful Wine Tasting Experience

With over 6000 wineries across the United States, there are ample opportunities for wine lovers to tour and taste. With the addition of several new wine trails across the country in the past few years, more and more people are enjoying visits to wineries. Did you know that every state in the U.S. now has at least one winery?

Before you travel to your local winery or the nearest wine trail, consider that your wine tasting experience will involve several of your senses. To get the most from your visit, and to help you more readily identify your favorite wines for a purchase, let's talk about how to approach wine tasting in general. And while wine tasting shouldn't be complicated or intimidating, here are seven tips to consider:

Limit Your Use Of Cologne Or Perfume: These scents, while generally pleasing, will affect your ability to pick up wine aromas. In turn, this will alter your ability to judge a wine's true taste. And, these scents will affect the senses of your fellow wine tasters as well.

Have A Hearty Breakfast Or Lunch: Before embarking on a wine tasting journey, be sure you've had something to eat, but nothing too spicy or overly seasoned. Your taste buds should be neutral, and of course you'll want something in your stomach so you don't get tipsy.

Bring Bottled Water Along: Most tasting rooms will offer water with your tastings to help cleanse your palate. But if you're visiting more than one winery, it's a good idea to hydrate in between winery visits. Not only will this help keep your palate fresh, but will help minimize the effect of alcohol.

Call Ahead: Wineries will occasionally host large tour groups, and if so, it might not be the best time for you to visit. Staff might be overwhelmed and you might not receive the attention you might otherwise expect. A quick phone call in advance will help you schedule the best time for you and the winery staff.

Follow The Progression: Be sure to go with the flow at the tasting counter. Wines are poured, and tasted, from light to dry to sweet for a reason. For example, if you start your tasting with a big bold red wine, it will adversely affect a light, dry white.

Hold The Cheese: Sometimes a tasting room will offer cheese samples along with the wine tasting. Try to hold off on the cheese, because cheese will alter your perception of the wine's taste. You can always pair up an appropriate cheese with your favorite wine later.

Keep An Open Mind: You may already have a definite opinion of what types of wines you enjoy. But keeping an open mind has its advantages! Try different styles. You might find a new favorite, and it's a great way to learn more about wine.

Just about every winery will offer you a warm, friendly wine tasting experience. Have fun, ask questions, and compare notes with friends. Wine is meant to be shared and enjoyed, and what better place to do it than at that special small winery on a scenic wine trail.

Jim Hofman is an author specializing in wine, beer, and travel. For more fun facts about wine, be sure to visit Jim's new website dedicated to wine travel, wine accessories, and wine education.