10 Interesting Facts about Chocolate

Posted by Natasha Paracha on May 8, 2011

1) The word chocolate comes from Aztec word xocolatl which means bitter or sour water.All of us eat chocolates and some of us are even crazy about them especially women but hardly any of us know any facts about this luscious creation of 18th century. It is said that first chocolate factory was built in US in 1765 but the first machine-made chocolate was produced in Barcelona, Spain in 1780 and 1925, the Americans even created an association for all the chocolate manufacturers around the country by the name of Chocolate Manufacturers Association of United States of America (CMA). Did you know all that? No. Then you must continue reading this list of ten interesting facts about Chocolate.

2) The desire of chocolate in women is more than men.

3) It is said that eating a chocolate bar before meal will lighten your appetite , and you’ll eat less than you desire to eat. So trying this might help you losing some pounds off your body.

4) It is believed that intake of chocolates discharge the same chemical into your body which is produced when you start falling for someone.

5) It is said that Napolean always used to carry chocolates with him and ate some whenever he needed quick energy.

6) An average American eats 11.7 pounds of chocolate where as a Swiss eats 21 pounds/year.

7) It is said that cocoa beans were actually discovered by monkeys not by men.

8) It is a myth that chocolate causes acne. No one has proved any any link between them.

9) Chocolates contain high amounts of flavonoids which is an important class of antioxidant plant chemicals called polyphenols that cuts the risk of heart disease in half.

10) It wont be easy selling a Chocolate wrapped in blue wrapper China and Honkong , because Chinese associate blue with death.

10 Interesting Facts about Chocolate

10 Interesting Facts about Madrid, Spain - Madrid Hotels & Travel Guide

10 Interesting Facts about Madrid, Spain

Madrid has been officially declared as one of the "greenest" cities in Europe. However, greenery is not its only pride. There are a lot of interesting facts about the multi-cultural, second to none Madrid. Some of the unknown facts about this beautiful city are:

1. Madrid's official symbol of the bear on its hind legs eating berries from the madroño tree is a metaphor for Madrid's growth and represents possession and ownership of wood which is necessary for constructing buildings.

2. Madrid's Safari Park has a huge range of over 500 animals along with the aviary and reptile house. The most interesting event is the lion taming show which takes place on a daily basis.

3. Madrileños are often called "Gatos" (cats) not because of their late sleeping habits similar to cats, but because of the historical legend where during the Arabic invasion, an adept soldier climbed the outer walls with the agility of a cat; after which, his family assumed the name of Gato.

4. Madrid has a wonderful open-air pool, the Aquasur, with five giant slides and is a favourite hot-spot visited mostly by kids and youngsters in the summers.

5. The Royal Tapestry Factory at Madrid makes intricate, expensive and gorgeous tapestries which are usually based on cartoons by Goya and his brother-in-law Francisco Bayeu. Goya's originals have been displayed at the prestigious Prado.

6. If you have never visited a real flea market, consider the El Rastro which is open on Sundays for a great first-time experience with its array of odd objects right from junk to rare findings and paintings.

7. Madrid celebrates a Carnavale full of fun and frolic, weeks before Lent. Highlights of the Carnavale is the Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday when men in mourning bury a cardboard effigy of a sardine in a mock coffin by the riverside in remembrance of a tragic event that took place in the 18th century.

8. The Bullfighting Museum (Museo Taurino) gives visitors an insight into the art - its history and changing trends in dressing style. What few people know is that it also displays the costume worn by Manolete who was gored to death at a young age in Linares's bullring.

9. Spain's answer to Disneyworld is the Warner Brothers Movie World at Madrid which is open for six months in summer and has five themed parts namely Old West Territory, Hollywood, DC Super Heroes, Cartoon Village, and Warner Bros. Studios.

10. The famed Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Spain's modern art museum which is home to Picasso's masterpiece 'Guernica' and pays tribute to great artists of 20th-century Spain had once been named as "the ugliest building in Spain" by Catalan architect Oriol Bohigas.

10 Interesting Facts about Madrid, Spain - Madrid Hotels & Travel Guide

world's pigs - Taste water - Trivia « ArcaMax Publishing

Where do the world's pigs reside?

Almost half the pigs in the world are kept by farmers in China.

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Can you taste water?

Pigs, dogs, and some other animals can taste water, but people cannot. Humans don't actually taste the water, they taste the chemicals and impurities in the water.

Where do the world's pigs reside? - Trivia « ArcaMax Publishing

Are snails lazy? - Trivia « ArcaMax Publishing

Nobody would describe as "vigorous." Snails sleep a lot. In addition to several months of winter hibernation, they crawl into their shells to get out of the hot sun, which dries them, or heavy rain, which waterlogs them. Desert snails may even doze for three or four years.

Are snails lazy? - Trivia « ArcaMax Publishing

Are there any U.S. produced diamonds? - Trivia « ArcaMax Publishing

The United States consumes 50 percent of the world's production of diamonds. However, there is only one diamond mine located in the U.S. in Arkansas.

Are there any U.S. produced diamonds? - Trivia « ArcaMax Publishing

interesting World Trivia - Trivia « ArcaMax Publishing

The questions...

1. There are currently no countries, states or sovereign nations that begin with this English letter.

2. How many U.S. states have capital cities with the name "city" in their name? For bragging rights, name them.

3. Coup d'etat commonly occurs on this continent, with over 30 of its countries experiencing depositions in the last 60 years alone.

4. Located on the Iberian Peninsula, these two nations figured prominently in the rise of modern nations.

5. Name the world's first black republic, which was established in 1804.

6. Ten countries declared their independence in this month. For bragging rights, list the countries.

7. Name the city that hosted the United Nations General Assembly's first session.

8. Which two countries in South America do not share a border with Brazil?

9. As a follow-up to question No. 8, how many countries share a border with Brazil? Can you name all of them?

10. Name the most common and the most uncommon symbols used on a national flag.

Are you ready for the answers ?

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Answers:

1. No countries, states or sovereign nations begin with the letter "X."

2. There are four U.S. capital cities with the word "city" in their name: Jefferson City, Kan.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Carson City, Nev.

3. Africa: Western Africa has had over 40 coups, mostly against civil regimes.

4. Portugal and Spain make up the Iberian Peninsula.

5. Haiti was the world's first black republic.

6. The following countries claimed independence milestones in August: Singapore, Ecuador, Pakistan, Korea, India, Indonesia, Estonia, Uruguay, Malaysia and Bolivia.

7. London hosted the first U.N. General Assembly in January 1946.

8. Ecuador and Chile are the only two countries in South America that do not share a border with Brazil.

9. Ten South American countries border Brazil: Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guinea and Suriname.

10. The star is the most commonly used symbol, with over 50 countries featuring at least one. Only one country, the Dominican Republic, has ever used a Bible on its national flag.

World Trivia - Trivia « ArcaMax Publishing

Quote of the Day - Where you go!

Inspiring Quote of the Day:

The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.
- Oliver Wendell Holmes