Do you love chocolate?

[Amelia]

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

[carolaa]

That's fantastic. I hope they continue to be a success story. No doubt the powerful competition will do everything they can to eliminate them.

[Cosmin M.]

Awesomeness.

[GreatLakesGramma]

I'm allergic to chocolate.

[Dottie]

I don't usually buy the expensive chocolate in the "health" food store. But as now I know a little more about it, I will try to find the brand, and may buy a bar.

[phkrause]

I love chocolate, and eat to much of it. But man does it taste good.

pk

[Dr. Shane]

Chocolate is one of my favorites. I like drinking hot chocolate (I buy the low cal version) and one of my favorite desserts is chocolate cake. Sugar-free chocolate pudding and pudding pops are up there on my list too.

[phkrause]

I saw this cooking show on 3abn, abundant living, and they made this carob pie, and I've made it a few times now and I think I like it better than chocolate pie. My wife still has a hard time with it, but it does take time to get used to the taste.

pk

[GreatLakesGramma]

I liked carob from the first time I tasted it.

[phkrause]

I didn't mind it, but it did take a little time to get over the strong taste it leaves. In the carob pie they use almond extract and roma coffee to help with the strong taste of the carob, but you can still taste it.

pk

[Dr. Shane]

I like carob but I don't see it as a chocolate substitute. It is like caramel or vanilla - another great flavor.

[phkrause]

I agree with you. Not sure why we always say that. They don't call it carob substitute pie! ha Maybe they should say an alternative to chocolate. To me it seems as a better word for anything not just chocolate.

pk

[Amelia]

*gp

Did you know that the carob tree is related to peas? LOL It is also called St. Johns bread. It is rumored that John The Baptist ate this in the wilderness. Carob is also called Locust Beans. Locust bean gum is used as thickening in processed foods. It is also used as cattle feed. Carob is native to Africa whereas Cacao (cocoa) is native to the Americas (specifically So. America). But strangely 70% of the cocoa consumed by the world population comes from Africa. And just so you know, this cocoa is worked mostly by children in an area with the worst child labor infractons of the country. Hummmmmm maybe it's time to stop eatting the cheap chocolate and purchase the chocolate made by the smaller family co-ops. One or two of those bars a month shouldn't break my bank.

[Dr. Shane]

I have to be careful to eat either carob or chocolate in the right form. I could sit down and eat myself into the grave with either carob or chocolate chips. However I have some healthy recipes for cakes, cookies and hot beverages that go well with a healthy lifestyle.

[Amelia]

Shane, I can only have one portion of chocolate in the house at a time. Same with cookies and cake. Any more and I will eat it. And eat it, and eat it........

[GreatLakesGramma]

We had locust trees at our previous home. But they were black locust, which is not edible. You could definitely tell from those pods they dropped all over the place that they were legumes!

[Amelia]

LOL I have one of those growing outside my apt. Between it and the chestnut, my little car gets littered with all kinds of chaf.

[Planey]

Does anyone here worry about buying ethical chocolate> Is it much of an issue in the US? If so, what do you think are the best ethical brands?

Or do you just make your purchases based on taste>

Graeme

[nuff sed]

"Taste" will do it every time!

[GreatLakesGramma]

This is the first I've heard of ethical issues over chocolate. Of course, since I'm allergic, I don't buy it, and don't pay much attention to news about it.

[Planey]

This is part of the problem:

Quote:

There is a surprising association between chocolate and child labor in the Cote d'Ivoire. Young boys whose ages range from 12 to 16 have been sold into slave labor and are forced to work in cocoa farms in order to harvest the beans, from which chocolate is made, under inhumane conditions and extreme abuse. This West African country is the leading exporter of cocoa beans to the world market. Thus, the existence of slave labor is relevant to the entire international economic community. Through trade relations, many actors are inevitably implicated in this problem, whether it is the Ivorian government, the farmers, the American or European chocolate manufacturers, or consumers who unknowingly buy chocolate. Discussions have arisen regarding how to respond to the problem. Issues mentioned include causes of slave labor relating to the economic system and to the country's dependence on an unstable export crop. There are also debates concerning the appropriate response from the chocolate industry, government officials, and consumers concerning whether there should be boycotting, establishment of government legislation to put "made by slaves" labels on products, or whether some type of international cooperation is needed to ensure improved working conditions. The complexity of the problem makes finding an effective solution a challenging task.

Taken from this link.

Graeme

[GreatLakesGramma]

If I were buying chocolate, I would look for that brand in the video. Maybe I'll check out the stores next time I go, just to see if it is available locally.

[True-believer]

I liked carob from the first time I tasted it.

Carob???

Whats that???

[True-believer]

I've switched from pretend vege meat from real meat...

But, I can not switch from real chocolate to carob or pretend chocolate... it taste too good...

Real chocolate.... mmmmmmmmmmm

Mars Bars, Cadbury Dairy Milk, mmmmmmmmm

Against the Health Message, but we're allowed to have special treats every now and then without being legalistic.

[phkrause]

carob is not pretend chocolate. It is its own entity, and a lot healthier than chocolate, also not addictive as chocolate. Having said that I love chocolate but also like carob.

pk