ALL ABOUT CHOCOLATE
Aug 5, 2021
A CRASH COURSE IN COCOA BUTTER
All chocolate lovers who read this will know that cocoa butter is a critical natural component of the cocoa bean. Some of you may have seen it also listed in the ingredients of inedible products such as cosmetics, and wondered if it’s a bioidentical product. Turns out, cocoa butter is enormously versatile. In addition to being super important in chocolate, it can be used in baking as well as in moisturizers, makeup, and health care products.
Jun 24, 2021
Pairing Chocolate with Wine and Beer
Wine and beer tasting events are great places to learn about how specific vintages and varieties pair with chocolate. (Yes, you read that right, beer and chocolate!) People get to learn about why it’s great to serve these ingredients together and how each one complements the other. Here is some basic information about chocolate and alcohol for you to know before you attend a tasting, or perhaps to help you host your own.
Jun 17, 2021
HELP! MY DOG ATE MY CHOCOLATE!
Has your dog ever gotten into a piece of chocolate cake you had sitting on the counter for dessert? Have you ever wondered whether to head to the hospital when the last piece of your chocolate bar goes missing? People tend to think that chocolate is deadly for dogs, and while it can be for some, it actually depends on a few different factors: the size of the dogs, the amount and type of chocolate consumed, and the dog's age and overall health. Here's the scoop.
Jun 10, 2021
CHOCOLATE BOOKS TO TAKE TO THE BEACH
Ah, summer. Time for many of us to spend some time unplugged by the water, reading, napping, and doing whatever brings us joy. Taking chocolate to the beach is not a great idea unless you want to slurp it melted, but there are numerous excellent books about chocolate that travel a lot better than chocolate itself. Here are four of Tangle Chocolate’s favorites.
Apr 15, 2021
IS SUGAR GMO-FREE?
If you read our last blog post, you’ll know that not all sugar is vegan. Cane sugar generally is not vegan, beet sugar is. However, cane sugar is way less likely to be made with GMO crops, whereas beet sugar most likely started with GMO beets. Here's a little more info to help you understand the pros and cons of GMOs.
Apr 8, 2021
IS SUGAR VEGAN?
Sugar comes from either sugar cane or beets. Vegan foods are those that are made with no animal products. Sugar cane and beets are plants. So why isn't sugar always vegan? The secret culprit is a product called bone char. Bone char is made from cattle bones and is a de-coloring filter often, but not always, used in sugar production. Read more to find out why it may matter to you and how to make sure you are consuming truly vegan sugar.
Mar 18, 2021
The Rich Chocolate History of Massachusetts
Massachusetts is known for many mouth-watering treats from baked beans to cream pie. But it also has a rich history of chocolate which includes the invention of chocolate chip cookies, white chocolate, Baker's chocolate...and has an interesting cameo appearance by the one and only Paul Revere!
Feb 18, 2021
We were interviewed on the radio!
On February 8, 2021, Bob Flaherty of WHMP radio in Northampton, Massachusetts invited me, Suzanne Forman, the founder of Tangle Chocolate, to sit down with him for a few minutes to talk all things chocolate. We had a ball as Bob tasted Tangle's slivers of chocolate using a flavor wheel, discussed what's special about this chocolate, and praised his wife who happened to also be my children's gymnastic coach years ago! Here's an audio file of the approximately eight-minute segment.
Feb 11, 2021
The Evolution of Chocolate and Valentine's Day
When we think of Valentine’s Day, we think of chocolate, flowers, and poetry. But it started out as a day of fertility rites, animal sacrifices, and coupling via lottery. How did it get from there to here?
Jan 28, 2021
CHOCOLATE OR SEX?
A number of studies have been conducted over the years as to whether people prefer chocolate or sex. The winner: chocolate...but you might not want to look too closely at the rigor of the scientific process! Read a bit more here, and take Tangle Chocolate's one-question survey which asks which YOU would choose.
Jan 7, 2021
IS THERE CAFFEINE IN MY CHOCOLATE?
It’s time to set the record straight once and for all––does chocolate actually have caffeine? Should you not drink hot chocolate before bed? Can a chocolate bar replace your morning cup of joe? The answers to these questions are a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no.
Oct 29, 2020
Vegan Chocolate, a Small Step Towards a Healthier Diet
The COVID-19 pandemic has inspired lots of people to make changes in their lives, both big and small. One common area of change: what we eat. It's tough to adapt to a diet that feels punitive, now more so than ever. Tangle Chocolate suggests starting small by eating vegan chocolate.