Our weekly roundup of chocolate related news, politics and products. See what’s happened every Sunday.
Sweet ol’Putin
Standing at 1.7 meters high and coming in a 70kgs it’s the world’s largest chocolate sculpture of a secular world leader – as far as they know. How are you going to eat that without going to jail?
Math and chocolate
Ever wonder how the curtain of chocolate from a chocolate fountain keeps together? It’s called surface tension. And there’s a little party trick in this article too. Unfortunately it’s just using water. Unless you buy one of these!
Cacao: the game
Gamify your life! Here’s a review of Cacao, a modern tile-laying boardgame. Explore the jungles, sell cacao beans and just generally bankrupt your friends. Rich with chocolate! That’s the way to be. Cacao and water: stuff of life. *high five
New polyphenols discovered
That doesn’t sound exciting but Callebaut has discovered new polyphenols in cacao while peering into the molecular structure. Callebaut is developing a chocolate atlas and most of their research will be public domain. New polyphenols, new microbes, the future of chocolate is looking more complex than ever.
Weather for cacao still terrible
With demand for cacao still rising weather patterns are wringing hands in West Africa. El Nino continues to make prospects a little shaky though it did just rain (finally) in Côte d’Ivoire. Even so farmers there are guessing that they will not hit their target. Though most of their crop doesn’t go to craft chocolate makers worldwide high prices will effect everyone.
Time travel
I’d like to welcome Austrian politician Manfred Gail from their time travel journey from the 1950’s! What a world of changes you’ve arrived at!
That’s all the news for this week! See you next Sunday.
Chris/Vancouver
Being the son of a chocolatier Chris has always enjoyed talking about chocolate as much as he loves eating it. He’s an artist and designer as well as a co-founder of the Chocolate Codex.