Chocolate comes from the cacao tree, which grows in warm, rainy places like Central and South America, Africa, and parts of Asia (even our very own Sri Lanka).
A long time ago, over 3,000 years ago, the Maya and Aztec people were the first to use cacao beans. But they didn’t eat it like we do today. They made a bitter drink from the beans and used it in ceremonies and celebrations. They even used cacao beans as money.
In the 1500s, Spanish explorers brought cacao to Europe, where people began mixing it with sugar, milk, and spices to make it sweet. It became very popular, especially
with kings and queens.
By the 1800s, inventors created machines to make smooth, solid chocolate bars, and chocolate became a treat for everyone—not just the rich.
A treat with a story
Chocolate has come a long way—from an ancient jungle drink to tasty treats in your lunchbox. So the next time you enjoy a piece of chocolate, remember: it started off as a tiny bean on a tree and travelled across the world just to make you smile.
Dark side of chocolate
Child labour today
Even today, some chocolate is made in countries where children are forced to work on cacao farms. They may have to carry heavy loads, use sharp tools, and work long hours instead of going to school.
This is called child labour, and it’s unfair and unsafe. Child labour has been found on cocoa farms in Cameroon, Guinea, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. As most of Western Africa’s cocoa is grown in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, the majority of child labour cases have been in those two countries.
What can we do?
The good news is that people around the world are working to make chocolate better for everyone. Here’s how:
Look for Fair Trade chocolate. It means the farmers are treated fairly and children are not forced to work. Support companies that protect the environment and treat their workers well. Learn more and talk about it—even children can help by spreading the word.
Choose products with the Rainforest Alliance frog, which helps save the rainforests, keep animals safe and supports kind and fair farming.
Choco-champions: Which chocolates rule the world?
Chocolate is loved by everybody all over the world—and some brands are so popular that they’re known in almost every country. These famous chocolate brands make bars, candies, and treats that people of all ages enjoy. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular chocolate brands in the world.
- Snickers
- Made by: Mars, Inc.
- Famous for: Chocolate bar with nougat, caramel, and peanuts
- Fun Fact: Snickers is the best-selling chocolate bar in the world.
- KitKat
- Made by: Nestlé (except in the USA)
- Famous for: Crispy wafer covered in chocolate
- Fun Fact: In Japan, Kit Kat comes in wild flavours like green tea and sweet potato.
- Cadbury Dairy Milk
- Made by: Cadbury, now owned by Mondelez
- Famous for: Creamy milk chocolate
- Fun Fact: Cadbury Dairy Milk is a favourite in the UK, India, and Australia.
- Toblerone
- Made by: Mondelez International
- Famous for: Triangle-shaped chocolate with honey and almond nougat
- Fun Fact: Its shape is inspired by the Swiss Alps mountain range.
- Ferrero Rocher
- Made by: Ferrero Group
- Famous for: Fancy gold-wrapped chocolate balls with hazelnut inside
- Fun Fact: It’s often given as a gift on holidays and special occasions.
- M&M’s
- Made by: Mars, Inc.
- Famous for: Colourful candy-coated chocolates
- Fun Fact: They “melt in your mouth, not in your hand!”
- Lindt
- Made by: Lindt & Sprüngli
- Famous for: Smooth chocolate truffles and premium bars
- Fun Fact: Lindt makes chocolate in fun seasonal shapes like bunnies and bears.
- Hershey’s
- Made by: The Hershey Company
- Famous for: Hershey’s bars, Kisses, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- Fun Fact: Hershey’s is one of the oldest chocolate makers in America.
- Milka
- Made by: Mondelez International
- Famous for: Creamy milk chocolate in a purple wrapper
- Fun Fact: Milka’s mascot is a purple cow.
- Ritter Sport
- Made by: Alfred Ritter GmbH
- Famous for: Square chocolate bars in colourful wrappers
- Fun Fact: Each bar comes in fun flavours like cornflakes, yogurt, and marzipan.
So, which one is your favourite?
No matter where you live, chances are you’ve tried at least one of these famous chocolates. Each has its own taste and story. Whether you like creamy, nutty, crunchy, or fruity—there’s a chocolate brand just for you. So today is just the day to grab your favourite.
Easy chocolate truffles
Ingredients
250 grams of your favourite milk, dark or white chocolate
100 ml of heavy cream or thick coconut cream
Let’s make them
Roughly chop your chocolate and set aside in a bowl
Warm your crème over the stove
Once the crème is warmed enough pour over the chocolate and let it rest for a minute, and give it a good stir.
Place the bowl in the refrigerator for the ganache to harden
Once hard, scoop out the chocolate mixture with a spoon and shape into balls
You can coat the truffles in toppings as you wish like cocoa powder, shredded coconut, cornflakes, cookie bits or chopped nuts.
Place them in the fridge for about ten minutes to harden, and you have very own handmade chocolate truffles, perfect for dessert after lunch or to give as a homemade gift to your friends or family.
