The moment the word chocolate is uttered, the lips widen into a smile, unconsciously we gulp and our eyes shine bright. No matter how old we are, no matter what gender or occupation, the reaction to this one magic word is ‘Ummm’.
Feeling happy, have some, feeling sad have some (it uplifts the spirits), feeling indulgent? is there anything better? A quick something that energises but doesn’t fill the tummy or mar the hunger — have a cube. Surreptitiously what do we reach out for? you’ve got it! after a meal when physically one is full but the mind wants something more? have some chocolate.
It is one of those nice things that has something to offer everyone — it doesn’t matter how varied the choices might be — one is spoilt for choice! visit the local grocery, they are in jars right in front of one’s eyes — beckoning — try me, have some. Visit a hypermarket. While we are busy searching for things in the shopping list, we just know where the rows of chocolate are. Our feet slow down without our realising, we look at them from the corner of our eyes, we swallow, smile and tell ourselves — OK later on. And then as if in a trance we tell ourselves, just to look — to see if there is anything new — that won’t hurt.
As we enter that magical row, we tell ourselves, overweight? I know, just a bit now and then, and a few more minutes of exercise — and that’s a promise. “you have sugar” scolds the mind — and we tell ourselves gently sugar free chocolates are also available. The ever figure conscious can’t resist its charm also. The dark ones are actually good for the heart…. so let’s ….
Chocolate seems to be a gift for any occasion. A birthday? Distributing chocolates in class is the high point…. and let’s not pretend to be saints…. if some are left over…. it’s a birthday gift almost to oneself from oneself (or did our parents have the same feeling, so knowingly they put some extra in the bag? Awww love you mom and dad).
Returning from an overseas trip? All eyes will be searching and waiting eagerly to see the box coming out of the suitcase. The kids will giggle in happiness and the older ones will wait in silence. Well, such is the effect that chocolate has on everyone.
Fallen in love? Express with chocolate. Had a fight? Want to make up? Depend on the unfailing charm of the sweet thing. Want to surprise? Leave a bar in the refrigerator. And finally want to irritate someone? Leave some in your pocket, forget it and when it goes for washing, well, let’s not say more.
Chocolate spoils us for choice — — there are the plain ones, the ones with nuts, butterscotch toffees, stick jaw gummys, twin tasting ones and the ones that are flaky, one’s that come out of the tube like toothpaste, instead it is chocolate paste. The fudge ones are great, the ones with wafer bits are delicious. Move on a little more — — Lozenges!!! now that’s a challenge. suck it, roll it around your mouth. As kids in front of the mirror seeing the bulging cheek, with a lozenge in the mouth filled us with glee. And finally, put it between the teeth (the ones that are at the extreme end of the jaws, mind you!!) and who doesn’t love that KRRCK sound eh?
For those with a stronger sweet tooth, the white chocolate is heaven. For the milder ones the milk chocolate is pure love. For the conscious ones the dark are the answer. The nuts in chocolate give a crunch and a crackle. From children to grandparents chocolate is just pure love. Then comes the ones with mint that have varied flavours too.
Last but not the least the chocolate covers themselves! They are beyond just attractive — remember the sound while trying to open a bar? That itself heightens the anticipation of what lies inside. Then comes the precision and perfectness of the bars or rounds. It is almost as if they throw around a challenge — how long will you just see me? And then the swift action of the hands and into the mouth they land … Enjoy!
Mamata Bandyopadhyay is a homemaker based in Dubai.
