Chocolate Week 2014: celebrating the nation's favourite sweet treat
As we enter a week celebrating chocolate, here are some amazing stats about our chocolate consumption.
It’s Chocolate Week 2014, and I’m struggling to stay at my desk as I have an almost overwhelming desire to pop down to the shop below to buy a chocolate bar.
Call me an addict, but I know I’m not the only one. According to research presented by Ferrero at the recent Kennedy’s World Chocolate Forum 2014, a massive 94% of people in the UK say they ‘love’ chocolate and, on average, we each consume a whopping 9.1kg each per year (the BBC reported last year that it’s more like 11kg).
Apparently, 43% of us would rather give up alcohol, and 35% lose their religion, than forego chocolate.
And figures from Nationwide building society say we collectively spend £3.5 billion on chocolate each year.
Chocolate Week events
There are a host of things happening around the UK to mark Chocolate Week, from chocolate tours in Brighton to a special menu at the Four Seasons Hotel in Crieff.
In London, Olympia will be playing host to the UK leg of the global Chocolate Show from Friday to Sunday, featuring everything from edible couture to truffle rolling and chocolatiers and bakers including our old friends Paul A Young and Edd Kimber.
You can view a full list of events here.
What does chocolate mean to you?
Our bond with chocolate runs deep. It was introduced to Europe in the 1500s, and has become well established as a national favourite.
Photo credit: York Cocoa House, hosts of Chocolate Club for children at The Chocolate Show
It’s the gift we give to the people we love, and a food we find solace in when we’re feeling down. A lot of people probably have fond memories of sharing chocolate too, so I ask: what does chocolate mean to you?
Do you think you have an emotional bond with chocolate? Are you a purist for chocolate flavour, or are you happy with something mass-produced – just so long as it’s chocolate?
You can vote for your favourite chocolate bar in our poll.
We've got chocolate covered
Take a look at our huge selection of chocolate recipes and articles in our Chocolate collection.
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