Chocolate

Did you know…

The Cacao Tree’s botanical name is Theobroma Cacao, which literally means, “Food of the Gods”!

Activity: Make an old fashioned chocolate egg cream 

The egg cream is believed to have originated in Brooklyn, New York and has been enjoyed since the 1880’s! 

Here is what you will need to make one of your own…

2-3T Chocolate syrup (*homemade or store bought)
8 oz Seltzer water – chilled
1/4 – 1/2c Milk (cow’s or almond)
Spoon
Whipped cream
A maraschino cherry
Straw
12oz glass or cup

What to do…

Put the desired amount of chocolate syrup into a cup. As you pour seltzer water into the cup with the syrup, mix vigorously with a spoon. Stir in milk and top with whipped cream and a cherry. Enjoy with a straw. Serves 1

* To make your own chocolate syrup, put 1/2c cocoa powder into a saucepan along with 1c sugar, 1/8tsp salt, and 1c of boiling water and stir until smooth. Turn the heat on medium and stir constantly until the mixture boils. Boil for 1 more minute without stirring. Remove from heat and allow to cool. When cool, stir in 1tsp of vanilla. 


Question of the day:

Is chocolate a fruit or a vegetable?

Learn more:

All About Chocolate
The Field Museum offers information about the history of chocolate, growing chocolate, making chocolate and more

International Cocoa Organization: What Time of Year is Cocoa Harvested?
An informative table to find out when and where cocoa is harvested.

Exploratorium: Exploring Chocolate
Take an online tour of the history of chocolate, learn chocolate facts, about the chocolate making process and more

What is chocolate?
Find out if chocolate is a vegetable or a fruit.

Wikipedia: 
History of Chocolate: Follow chocolate through the ages.
Chocolate: Information about chocolate, its history, how it’s grown, types, production and much more. Includes pictures and nutrition information.

Chocolate Jigsaw Puzzle
Do a chocolate jigsaw puzzle on line

Chocolate Puzzles
Printable chocolate related puzzles from About.com

History of the Egg Cream
Take a little trip down memory lane and read about the legend of the egg 
cream.

FranW.com: Chocolate Resource Page – Chocolate resource page for independent study and for creating a one of a kind study.


Chocolate Chips

Wikipedia: Chocolate Chips – Origins, types, uses and more.

Mental Floss: A Brief History of the Chocolate Chip – Article that talks about the origins of the chocolate chip.

Wonderopolis: Who Invented Chocolate Chips? – Offers a short history. Page reads to visitors. Scroll Down and click on “Listen”.

More chocolate activities on FranW.com:

Chocolate Activities