Modular systems are just plain smart, allowing you to tailor a design, change it around, and swap out individual components easily. So why not apply the principle to chocolate? Yes, chocolate. For her graduation project at ECAL, Elsa Lambinet collaborated with Swiss chocolatier Blondel to create customizable confections from interchangeable components--thereby realizing the fantasy of design-sensitive chocoholics everywhere.
Called “Sweet Play,” the project uses three types of chocolate and a range of toppings and fillings: dark chocolate has place for fruit, milk chocolate features indentations for nuts, and the white chocolate can hold liquids. All three have slots for receiving fillings such as waters, nougat, and caramel. “Participants get to mix and match ingredients for hours and hours as they gorge themselves on custom confectionery goodness,” writes Lambinet, whose concept fittingly earned her a master’s degree in luxury.
One ounce of dark chocolate can boast plenty of health benefits and antioxidants.
However, you have to be careful about which brand of chocolate you buy.
All dark chocolate is not created equal.
Healthy Dark Chocolate Brands
Godiva 72% or 85% Cacao Chocolate Bars: Are not processed with alkali. This means the bitter taste along with those fantastic health benefits are still in tact.
Lindt 70%, 85%, or 90% Cacao Bars: Also not processed with alkali.
Brookside Dark Chocolate with Pomegranate or Blueberries: Even though this is processed with alkali, it contains a hefty serving of antioxidants from the fruits.
Endangered Species Dark Chocolate Bars: Created ethically and sustainably so you can feel good about eating your sweet treat.
Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate Squares: Uses no cocoa powder as to intensify the chocolate flavor; Uses cocoa butter and liquor instead.
Chocolove Bars
Green & Black's Organic Bars
Organic Taza Chocolate Bars
Less Nutrient Rich Chocolate
Dove Dark Chocolate: Processed with alkali or, also called "Dutch processed", means that the acids in the chocolate are neutralized, and many of the antioxidants are lost.
CocoaVia Supplement Packs: These are similar to Crystal Light, except they have flavanoids (the main chocolate antioxidant) added in. You will get some health benefits from this, but it is more important to eat the whole food that contains the fiber.
Hershey's Special Dark
Dark Chocolate M&M's
Milky Way Midnight
Nestle Dark Hot Chocolate: Still contains trans fat!
Key Takeaway Points
You want to try to choose dark chocolate that is greater than 70% cacao and check the ingredient list to make sure it contains no alkali, but once you get to 90% or 99% cacao, the chocolate has very little sugar and will taste extremely bitter. Proceed with caution. Overall, if we're going to indulge in chocolate, why not make sure you are getting all those antioxidants as well? What is your favorite dark chocolate?
One ounce of dark chocolate can boast plenty of health benefits and antioxidants. 