Chocolate is for eating and much more

Chocolate might be one of the most popular snacks or desserts in the world. Be it chocolate bars or hot chocolate drinks, there are very few who can say they have never tasted chocolate. But how many can say that they had a chocolate bath the other day or paid for their grocery in chocolate?
Weird but true. There are many more uses to chocolate than the ones we are normally used to.

The word is derived from the Aztecs, ‘xocolat’. They associated chocolate with Maya, the goddess of fertility.
Apart from being a luxury item, it was also used as currency in Central America. One could buy anything from a rabbit to a slave and pay for them with cacao beans, price ranging from 5 upto a hundred and more beans.
It is also attributed with medicinal qualities. The Aztecs believed it built up resistance and fought fatigue, and was good for skin complexion. The chocolate drink was popular in 18th century England as a cure for stomach aches.
One of the most popular effects of chocolate, as many would like to believe, is as an aphrodisiac. There is no scientific evidence to prove that but no one can deny the sensual pleasure its consumption can give.
Next in is the chocolate massage. Based on the theory that chocolate has restorative properties and improves the texture and tone of the skin, spas all over the world give this exotic massage to rejuvenate the skin and muscles.
Chocolate can also be added to a variety of savoury dishes with fruits or meats, and is an important ingredient in cocktails like chocolate martinis.

And now for some a rather unusual use of chocolate, fashionwear. Some truly innovative designers have come up with the chocolate corsets, tops and dresses. Which quite expectedly are pretty near melting by the end of the fashion shows. Also popular, though not as bizarre are the chocolate sculptures, from a humble fountain to a life size Mercedes-Benz, these are more often seen as decorative items.

So the chocolates need not be only for the sweet toothed. An evergreen gift item, the chocolate is good for any and every occasion.