Are you a real chocoholic? Test yourself to know if you're the real thing!
It’s quite common to hear people refer to themselves as chocoholics. But are they really? Perhaps you fancy yourself to be a chocoholic as well. But is it really chocolate you crave? Or do you just like chocolate flavored treats?
I have often wondered how I might separate the real chocolate addicts from those of us who just like sweets (which have their own, but different, addictive draws). Finally, I formulated a test that will prove, once and for all, your true classification.
I have often wondered how I might separate the real chocolate addicts from those of us who just like sweets (which have their own, but different, addictive draws). Finally, I formulated a test that will prove, once and for all, your true classification.
What is the test?
To determine whether or not you’re a true chocoholic or not, we must do a taste test. What I suggest you try is a mixture I’ve developed consisting of nothing more than plain, nonfat yogurt and Dutched cocoa powder.
I recommend you try these two ingredients, mixed together until smooth, in a one-to-ten weight ratio of cocoa powder relative to yogurt. I actually eat this snack a lot (yeah, I’m a real chocoholic, according to my test at least), and regularly mix 30 grams of cocoa powder with 300 grams of yogurt, but that’s an awful lot, and for your test, you need only mix 10 grams of cocoa with 100 grams of yogurt.
The first time you taste this mixture, you’ll be overcome by the impression that it’s bitter. That’s to be expected- just think of unsweetened cocoa as you would coffee. They’re not so different, and when you avoid sweetening either, you can truly appreciate the complexity of the roasted bean itself.
And here is where the test comes in. If you develop a liking for this snack, chances are your true love is chocolate, and not its sweet, fatty carriers. If you don’t like the mixture and it doesn’t grow on you, you will know conclusively that chocolate- at least in its most basic components- is not your true love.
I recommend you try these two ingredients, mixed together until smooth, in a one-to-ten weight ratio of cocoa powder relative to yogurt. I actually eat this snack a lot (yeah, I’m a real chocoholic, according to my test at least), and regularly mix 30 grams of cocoa powder with 300 grams of yogurt, but that’s an awful lot, and for your test, you need only mix 10 grams of cocoa with 100 grams of yogurt.
The first time you taste this mixture, you’ll be overcome by the impression that it’s bitter. That’s to be expected- just think of unsweetened cocoa as you would coffee. They’re not so different, and when you avoid sweetening either, you can truly appreciate the complexity of the roasted bean itself.
And here is where the test comes in. If you develop a liking for this snack, chances are your true love is chocolate, and not its sweet, fatty carriers. If you don’t like the mixture and it doesn’t grow on you, you will know conclusively that chocolate- at least in its most basic components- is not your true love.
So! Are you a chocoholic?
What was the outcome of your test?
Why does the test work?
There are two primary reasons why this test is at least moderately valid.
For one thing, we as humans are designed to love fats and sugars. They’re good, and even if other ingredients mixed in with them are not to our liking, we’re more likely to enjoy them anyway simply because they’re reinforced with those other highly attractive components.
By removing the sweetness and fat from the chocolate, you’re left with no powerful distractions. If you were just along for the sugar-fat ride, you’ll be getting off the bus here.
There’s another reason why I use cocoa powder for this test and not liquor or some other unsweetened chocolate substance. Cocoa powder holds the highest concentration of theobromine, a chemical substance (also called xantheose) that may be a component of chocolate’s potentially addictive properties.
Theobromine is a stimulant similar to caffeine, and also a diuretic and vasodilator (it widens your blood vessels). It is also known as being a compelling component of chocolate’s function as an aphrodisiac, can reduce coughing and symptoms of asthma, and may help to prevent cancer.
My thinking is this: if you’re hooked on theobromine and want to see if you are, the best way to test your reaction is to take a large dose of it. This yogurt-cocoa powder snack packs a ton of it.
For one thing, we as humans are designed to love fats and sugars. They’re good, and even if other ingredients mixed in with them are not to our liking, we’re more likely to enjoy them anyway simply because they’re reinforced with those other highly attractive components.
By removing the sweetness and fat from the chocolate, you’re left with no powerful distractions. If you were just along for the sugar-fat ride, you’ll be getting off the bus here.
There’s another reason why I use cocoa powder for this test and not liquor or some other unsweetened chocolate substance. Cocoa powder holds the highest concentration of theobromine, a chemical substance (also called xantheose) that may be a component of chocolate’s potentially addictive properties.
Theobromine is a stimulant similar to caffeine, and also a diuretic and vasodilator (it widens your blood vessels). It is also known as being a compelling component of chocolate’s function as an aphrodisiac, can reduce coughing and symptoms of asthma, and may help to prevent cancer.
My thinking is this: if you’re hooked on theobromine and want to see if you are, the best way to test your reaction is to take a large dose of it. This yogurt-cocoa powder snack packs a ton of it.
More about the Cocoa-Powder & Yogurt Mixture
I tried this one on a whim (needed chocolate, ran out of sweets and didn’t have time to bake something) and got hooked. Ever since, I’ve been hooked.
I find this chocolate-yogurt snack to be a great pick-me-up. It’s packed with protein, it’s a stimulant, and it’s low in fat- yet incredibly rich and filling. In fact, theobromine is actually known to suppress appetite, and I’ve found that after eating this, I’m not hungry for hours and hours- even when I want to be. I actually have to be careful to eat it only after everything else at night, or early in the afternoon so I can still enjoy supper.
Do keep in mind, though, that if you try this mixture using normal, un-alkalized cocoa powder, you’ll barely be able to choke it down, chocolate addiction or not! Dutched cocoa has been treated with alkali to neutralize its acidity. This allows you to really taste the chocolate. Dutched cocoa powder is harder to get than the normal stuff though- so when you’re looking at ingredients, make sure your powder is either listed as “Dutched” or “treated with alkali.”
I find this chocolate-yogurt snack to be a great pick-me-up. It’s packed with protein, it’s a stimulant, and it’s low in fat- yet incredibly rich and filling. In fact, theobromine is actually known to suppress appetite, and I’ve found that after eating this, I’m not hungry for hours and hours- even when I want to be. I actually have to be careful to eat it only after everything else at night, or early in the afternoon so I can still enjoy supper.
Do keep in mind, though, that if you try this mixture using normal, un-alkalized cocoa powder, you’ll barely be able to choke it down, chocolate addiction or not! Dutched cocoa has been treated with alkali to neutralize its acidity. This allows you to really taste the chocolate. Dutched cocoa powder is harder to get than the normal stuff though- so when you’re looking at ingredients, make sure your powder is either listed as “Dutched” or “treated with alkali.”
