I don’t drink tea or coffee. I don’t mind a coke zero, though limit when I crack open the bubbles because even a small amount of caffeine can affect my sleep (so, about 11am every morning!).
But the one treat I love above all others… is chocolate.
Chocolate both tastes yummy and makes me feel good – probably because it contains naturally occurring chemical compounds (alkaloids) that have physiological effects in humans, like cocaine and morphine! Sometimes I find myself addicted to chocolate and have to go without it for a few weeks to reboot and gain control. Otherwise I might be inclined to eat it every day. The serotonin levels in my brain just love it soooo much!
If I look on the right websites, I can sometimes convince myself that chocolate is good for me, because of the antioxidants it contains. I do like Lindt Orange Intense, a dark chocolate infused with orange essence and almond flakes. I also like Dark Maltesers, Smarties, Galaxy, and Ferrero Rocher.
But my absolute favourite chocolate is Haigh’s Chocolates. Their Sticky Date Pudding chocolate is particularly divine, as are their White Lemon Truffle, Dark Mint Pastilles, and Milk Salted Caramel… All yum!
In fact, I often accept chocolate gifts from clients and readers who want to gift me something small (to chocolate[at]zenashapter[dot]com) in thanks for something.
Another yum is a hot chocolate made with real melted chocolate – not powder or syrup!
I love finding a barista who knows how to mix it in with the milk properly (not leave it on the glass or at the bottom), so you get a consistent flavour throughout and an actual hot (not luke warm!) drink.
In fact, I recently set out to find all the best hot chocolates in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, tried out over 50 cafes, then wrote an article about my top 12!
I now know exactly where to go if I want chocolate – solid or liquid!
Want to discover what chocolate has helped me to write? Just click here.