• May Walks: The Pearl & Downtown Portland
• Choco-Quote of the Month
• New: The Portland Chocolate Lovers Meetup
• Phrase of the Month: German's Sweet Chocolate
• Mother's Day Gift Ideas
• A Morsel of NW Chocolate History

May Walks: The Pearl & Downtown Portland

Our next Portland Chocolate Walking & Tasting Tour is set for May 22 in The Pearl. Also, a new date has been added for a Downtown Walk on Saturday, May 29th. Both are from 1-4:30 pm. These neighborhood searches for all things chocolate are perfect for residents and visitors alike. You can call West Linn Parks and Recreation Department at 503-557-4700 or register for the Pearl walk here. Please purchase the Downtown Walk on our website and be sure to select the desired route/date. Hope to see you on the chocolate trail!

Choco-Quote of the Month

"A processor can ruin a good bean but cannot make good chocolate from an inferior one." ~Robert Steinberg, cofounder of Scharffen Berger Chocolates.

NEW: THE PORTLAND CHOCOLATE LOVERS MEETUP

This group was started to gather chocolate lovers together and explore the world of our favorite food group. If you live in the Portland, Oregon area, love meeting fellow food enthusiasts, and want to discover new and exciting chocolate in all forms, then please join us. We'll be meeting monthly to get together for a chocolate outing and friendship. Our first meeting is on Saturday, May 15th at Jaciva's Chocolates After Hours at 7:30 pm. Get more information by clicking here. Hope to see you there!

Phrase of the Month: German's Sweet Chocolate

No, this isn't a type of chocolate from Germany. Instead, it is the name of chocolate created by Samuel German, an employee of America's oldest chocolate manufacturer- Baker's Chocolate Company- that had its beginnings in the late 1700's. Until 1852, production was limited to unsweetened chocolate. However, Samuel thought it would be convenient for home bakers to have sugar already added to their chocolate. Ta Da- that is how German's sweet chocolate was born! Over the years, this chocolate has become associated with the famous cake. Click here for the delicious recipe.

MOTHER'S DAY GIFT IDEAS

Our Portland Chocolate Walking & Tasting Tour gift certificates make perfect presents for the important women in your life. Valid a year from the date of purchase, they are good for any scheduled walk. Make your Mother's Day shopping easier by clicking here . Also be sure to check out our Partners in Chocolate for additional gift-giving suggestions. Please remember to think and buy local whenever you can: The possibilities are endless!

A MORSEL OF NW CHOCOLATE HISTORY

Paul van der Velt has been the winemaker for Shallon Winery in Astoria, Oregon for over 30 years. He considers his most famous project his Chocolate and Orange Liqueur Whey Wine. It is like a liquid chocolate-orange truffle in a bottle. He considers it "the ultimate creation of my older years." For a quick video that includes the unique way his chocolate wine is served go right here. It will make you want to stop what you are doing, jump in the car, and head out to the coast! Just be sure to call first, since Paul has been working fewer hours lately. You can get more details on his wines and his other passions at his eclectic website.

Hawaii's Big on Cacao

Several crops are helping to replace Hawaii's practically extinct sugar cane and pineapple industries. One of these is cacao. Currently beans grown on the Big Island and Oahu are shipped off to the West Coast for processing into chocolate. Hawaii is the only U.S. state where cacao can grow, with only about 200 acres of cacao now growing in the islands, with a potential of several thousand more. This will be important time of transition for Hawaii as they grow more cacao and gradually become involved with more aspects of the manufacturing process.

Chocolate and Autism

A nasal spray containing a hormone found in chocolate called oxytocin, is said to help adults with autism, according to a study released in February. It helped the participants to make better eye contact and interact more effectively with others. Although this study raises many questions, oxytocin may offer hope to finding a cure. The National Center for Scientific Research in France led the research and you can read more about this study by going here.

Dagoba Lip Balm

Eco Lips has created a new line of organic chocolate lip balms. Made with Dagoba Chocolate's organic cocoa powder, these USDA-certified organic lips balms contain moisturizing and soothing oils for healing protection. The Dagoba Certified Organic Chocolate Lip Balm Collection includes the following flavors: Roseberry (raspberries, rosehips and dark chocolate), Mint (dark chocolate blended with mint oil and rosemary essence) and Lavender (lavender, blueberries and dark chocolate). Be on the look out for them at your local health food store.

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Happy Spring Chocolating!