University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, February 13, 1991
Features
11
Cravings cry out for chocolate
By Nedra Beth Randolph
Kansan staff writer
For Stephanie Beaham, Lake Quivera senior, chocolate is a daily obsession.
Throughout history, chocolate has been an obsession.
In ancient times, the Aztec Indians considered chocolate an aphrodisiac.
"If I don't have it every day, I crave it," she said. "I like all chocolate, anything with chocolate in it."
The Aztec and Mayan Indians prized chocolate so much they used cacao beans, which is what chocolate is made from, for money.
ABOVE: Whether addiction or mere obsession, chocolate is a sweet indulgence enjoyed by millions of Americans to the tune of 876.4 million pounds eaten every year.
In modern times, chocolate has become a multi-million dollar industry. Every year in the United States, each citizen eats an average of three and one-half pounds of chocolate.
Chocolate is an obsession.
For Eileen Cohen and Sharon Hoffman, their obsession with chocolate led to a career.
"It's a real obsessive addiction with chocolate," said Cohen, coworker of Panache Chocolatier in Kansas City, which sells only chocolate. We do it to satisfy our own desire; we do it for the love of chocolate."
She said her company specialized in chocolate items because chocolate had a special something about it.
"Chocolate is good for you because it makes you feel so good," she said.
Ann Davis, registered dietician at Watkins Memorial Health Center, said there was no such thing as a physiological addiction to chocolate.
"But there can be a psychological addiction to it," she said.
She said there was an ingredient in chocolate that was soothing to those who ate it. It is from the cacao plant, which is from the cocoa plant, is the principle alkaline in chocolate.
Martha West, project scientist at the biochemical research service laboratory at the University of Kansas, said the chemical contained in chocolate was similar to caffeine. She added that a more soothing effect than caffeine.
"Chocolate has a mood thing in it, she said. "The bromide is the primary thing in chocolate that makes you feel good."
Chocolate is such a big part of U.S. culture that it can be bought in just about any store that sells food.
LEFT: Chocolate heart boxes filled with candy are handmade for Valentine's Day customers at Ye Olde Sugarosity Shoppe Inc., 15 W. Ninth St.
'Chocolate is good for you because it makes you feel so good.'
Eileen Cohen
co-owner of Panache Chocolatier
At the information counter in the Kansas Union, 36 of the 39 candy bars and similar items were chocolate or contained chocolate.
Helen Harrell, information counter manager, said chocolate comprised about 75 percent of the food sales at the market.
"With Valentine's Day coming up, we've sold a lot of candy and chocolate," she said.
People eat chocolate for many different reasons.
Christopher King, Sante Fe, N.M,
senior, said he was buying a Milky
Way chocolate bar because he
needed a quick nick-me-up.
"It tastes good, and it's sweet," he said. "Very few people will tell you they hate the "taste of chocolate."
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"Over half of our sales have been chocolate," she said. "Chocolate's been real popular."
At Panache Chocolatier in Kansas City, Mo., which sells only chocolate, sales have been going well, said Eileen Cohen. co-owner.
Ye Olde Sugarsarity Shoppe, 15 W. Ninth St., has been busy the last few weeks before Valentine's Day, said Barbara Wood, owner. The sweet shop makes their own chocolate.
"My crews have been working around the clock to get ready for Valentine's Day," she said. "It's our biggest time of the year."
She said her store had Valentine's Day gifts ranging from $5 to hundreds of dollars.
The chocolate bar alone costs $9.59 at lunch. At dinner, the cost is $8.95 for just the desserts, which include cookies and puddings to pies and pastries.
Cohen said the store's Valentine's Day special of a velvet box with assorted chocolates inside is one of the best seller for the romantic holiday.
Valentine's Day is one of the biggest times of the year for chocolate sellers.
"Everything we carry is pure chocolate. That's why we've been around so long," she said. "If you don't carry the chocolate in it, we don't carry it."
The Peppercorn Duck Club in Kansas City, Mo., has an entire chocolate bar right along side the salad bar.
Valentine's Day is not the only time her business does well, Cohen said. The chocolate business is good throughout the year.
"The customers think the chocolate bar is wonderful," she said. "They come back time and time again."
Keri Bell, supervisor at the restaurant, said the restaurant was booked solid until 10:30 p.m. for Valentine's Day.
By Nedra Beth Randolph Kansan staff writer
Chocolate for Valentine's is popular gift
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