VALENTINE'S DAY / NATIONAL CHOCOLATE DAY SUPPLEMENT by Business24 Online

Valentine's Day / National Chocolate Day... FRIDAY, 12TH FEBRUARY, 2021

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Cheers to a bite of healthy Ghana chocolate! By Nii Annerquaye Abbey

Cocoa as a cash crop has served the Ghanaian economy very well, from long before independence. Apart from earning precious foreign exchange, the crop provided livelihoods to farmers, with many using proceeds from the tree to educate their children to become useful citizens. Over the years, cocoa farmers have laboured behind the scenes without gaining the much-needed recognition they deserve for their efforts in making the country one of the largest producers of the cash crop in the world. Despite being the secondbiggest exporter of cocoa, Ghana’s role in the multibillion-dollar chocolate industry has remained overshadowed by countries that use her raw materials to produce the finest cocoa-based products. For cocoa farmers to take their rightful place in the national economy, and the country its deserved place in the global chocolate industry, a change of approach is needed. The National Chocolate Day was launched 16 years ago with the goal of boosting domestic consumption of chocolate as well as other cocoabased products. It also presented

an opportunity for Ghanaians to savour the hard work of these farmers. It is a known secret that some of the best confectionery makers in the world place a premium on Ghana’s cocoa. That notwithstanding, Ghana-made chocolate barely makes it to the shelves of supermarkets outside of the country. It appears that Ghana’s focus has largely remained on exporting the raw unprocessed beans, with little attention given to domestic consumption. Perhaps if attention was given to domestic consumption, more locally-made products would find their way into local supermarkets. Indeed, the benefits of domestic consumption are enormous – ranging from extending the value chain, which provides more jobs, to giving the country extra foreign exchange through the export of cocoa products. Before the National Chocolate Day was launched 16 years ago, there was no strategic approach to driving the consumption of chocolate or any other cocoa-based products. Through the ingenuity of people like the late Jake Obetsebi

Lamptey, the National Chocolate Day has become one of the days to look forward to. It must be said that the decision to choose February 14, St. Valentine’s Day, as the National Chocolate Day was indeed a masterstroke. Given cocoa’s natural properties, which are known to enhance cardiovascular health, there could never have been a better symbol of love than chocolate, as has been widely marketed for the past 16 years. Despite its relative success, there is clearly more work to be done to ensure domestic consumption of cocoa increases. According to the COCOBOD CEO, Joseph Boahene Aidoo, the country’s per capita consumption is 0.53 kilograms, which is far below the consumption rate in Europe and the Americas of around 6.6 kilograms per capita. Speaking at the launch of this year’s National Chocolate Week, he argued that the nation needs to step up its per capita consumption of chocolate and other cocoa products to boost the national economy and reduce the export of raw cocoa beans for processing. Ghana currently processes about 40 percent of its raw cocoa beans

locally, with Cocobod setting a target to process at least 50 percent locally. In recent years, Cocobod in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority has expanded the celebration of National Chocolate Week, which should provide even more opportunity to encourage domestic consumption of cocoa-based products. One lesson the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted is the need for economies to be selfsustaining. And any plan to drive domestic consumption deserves all the support that one can garner. Apart from the soothing taste of cocoa, its health benefits are enormous and also very useful in the times that we live in. Cocoa’s antioxidant properties work well to boost one’s immune system – which is very key in mitigating the harm caused to the body by the novel coronavirus. As we mark the National Chocolate Week, remember: for every bite of chocolate or every sip of cocoa beverage, not only are you protecting the jobs of farmers but you are actually giving your immune system a boost to withstand the ills of this deadly virus. Do have a good chocolatey day!

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Valentine's Day / National Chocolate Day... FRIDAY, 12TH FEBRUARY, 2021

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Chocolate –Food for the Ages Few foods have been around as long or are as universally liked as chocolate. Chocolate is a fruit from the cocao tree. The cocao trees are grown predominately in West Africa, Asia, and South America. And while the term cocao bean is typically used, they are actually seeds that grow inside large pods on the cocao tree. Chocolate not only tastes delicious; it contains health promoting phytonutrients called flavanols.

a British chocolate company, J. S. Fry & Sons. The chocolate maker, Cadbury, is credited for creating the Valentine’s Day chocolate box. In the 1870’s, a Swiss chocolatier, Daniel Peter, used a powdered milk developed by his neighbor, Henry Nestle, to produce milk chocolate bars. Swiss chocolatier, Rodolphe Lindt, invented the conching machine in 1879 which aerated chocolate to give it a creamy texture and exquisite taste.

H1N1 flu, HIV, and SARS. People who are sensitive to caffeine should note that chocolate does contain caffeine. The higher the percentage of cocao solids, the greater the caffeine content. Two ounces of dark chocolate contains about 50-60 milligrams of caffeine. For comparative purposes, an eight-ounce cup of coffee contains about 100-200 milligrams of caffeine, depending on how it is brewed.

History

Health benefits of Chocolate

How chocolate is made

Chocolate is believed to date back over 5000 years to the MayoChinchipe culture of the upper region of Ecuador. The Mayan Indians believed cacao was a gift from the gods and used it as part of religious ceremonies and funerals. Chocolate was originally consumed as a bitter drink made by grinding cacao seeds into a paste and then mixing with water, vanilla, chili peppers, and other spices to make a drink. Chocolate was considered to be an energy drink and to have aphrodisiac and medicinal qualities by ancient Mesoamerican civilizations (areas located in Central America up to central Mexico). Cocao beans were even used as currency for trading for goods such as food. Spanish friars and conquistadors are reported to have brought chocolate to Europe in the 1500’s where it continued to spread. Chocolate became more affordable to make with the invention of the cocao press by a Dutch chemist in 1828. The first chocolate bar was made in 1847 by

Cocao is rich in flavanols. Flavanols are one of the six main types of flavonoids, plant-based phytonutrients with numerous health benefits. Many plant-based foods and beverages, such as fruits, vegetables, tea, and wine, contain flavonoids. Flavonoids are antioxidants, meaning they are anti-inflammatory and help protect the cells of our body from oxidative stress. Antioxidants lower risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Different flavonoids offer unique protective properties. For example, flavonols, reduce the risk of prostate cancer. While other flavonoids, such as anthocyanidins, decrease risk of lung cancer. Since flavonoids are anti-inflammatory, they have been shown to reduce the cellular response to pain. Flavonoids have also been found to have antibacterial and antiviral properties. Multiple studies found that some flavonoids could prevent cell replication of

Many steps are required in the making of chocolate. First, the cocoa seeds are removed from the pod, then dried and roasted. Next, the shells of the seeds are separated from the meat, or cocao nibs using a winnower machine. The cocao nib is what is put into a refining machine to become chocolate. The nibs are ground into a liquid, which is called chocolate liquor. During this process, the fat portion, cocoa butter, is separated out. The chocolate liquor is further refined into cocao solids and ground into cocoa powder. Dark chocolate and milk chocolate are both made from cocao nibs or chocolate liquor. Milk chocolate contains four ingredients: sugar, cocoa butter, milk powder and cocao nibs. Dark chocolate contains three ingredients: cocao nibs, cocoa butter, and sugar. White chocolate is made from sugar, cocoa butter, and milk powder and contains no cocao nibs. Lower quality chocolate candy may also contain butter fat, vegetable oils, and artificial coloring or flavoring. Dutch chocolate is made by

treating cocoa with an alkali. This process, sometimes called “Dutchprocessed”, causes a significant loss of flavanols.

Chocolate Safety Occasionally a white film may appear on chocolate. This is called “chocolate bloom” and is caused from the cocoa butter or sugar rising to the top of the chocolate. The chocolate still tastes good and is safe to eat since bacteria on the cocao seeds are killed during the roasting process. Refrigeration promotes chocolate bloom. To remove chocolate bloom, melt the chocolate over low heat while stirring. After melting, allow the chocolate to slowly cool back into a solid. For best appearance and shelf life, chocolate should be stored in a cool, dry area (65-70 °F) in a tightly sealed container. If stored as recommended, dark chocolate should last up to two years.

Chocolate trends Most Americans report consuming and giving chocolate candy at Valentine’s Day. Despite the COVID pandemic, this Valentine’s Day is not expected to be different. Among those buying chocolate for Valentine’s day, 32 percent report that chocolate with caramel is the most popular variety. Both Nestle and a Japanese company, Cacao Fruit Chocolate, are producing a chocolate candy that is sweetened with white cacao pulp rather than sugar and will soon be introducing their candy into American markets.

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Valentine's Day / National Chocolate Day... FRIDAY, 12TH FEBRUARY, 2021

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Interesting Valentine’s Day customs around the world By Claire WASILWA

February is the month of romance with Valentine’s Day being commemorated all over the world. Loved ones exchange gifts, flowers, chocolates and share meals. This day isn’t all about flowers though. Different countries and cultures celebrate love in their own way. Some exchange love spoons while others celebrate friendship, and not necessarily romantic relationships. Others celebrate their countries’ products to promote trade. Some follow the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, held in mid-February. The festival, which celebrated the coming of spring, includes fertility rites and the pairing off of women with men by lottery. Here's a look at how people celebrate love in different parts of the world. GHANA Every February 14, Ghana celebrates National Chocolate Day. It was inaugurated by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority and Cocoa Processing Company, Ghana Cocoa Board and other stakeholders in 2007. The aim is to create awareness on the need for Ghanaians to consume cocoa products and help generate more revenue for national development. SOUTH AFRICA Most couples in South Africa celebrate the day with romantic dinners, chocolates and gifts.

However, some people follow the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, from which some historians draw links with the origin of Valentine's Day. This festival has its roots in the ancient Roman empire, and was observed annually between February 13–15 to avert evil spirits and releasing health and fertility. However, this festival was considered a pagan rite, so the Roman Catholic Church later abolished it. Some South Africans however, in an ode to Lupercalia, pin their lover's name on their sleeves. SOUTH KOREA Couples in South Korea celebrate the day of love on the 14th of each month. The day of roses is celebrated in May, the day of kisses in June and the day of hugs in December. Valentine’s Day is celebrated monthly from February through April. On February 14, women woo their men with chocolates, candies and flowers. On March 14, a holiday known as White Day, men return the favour by showering their lovers with chocolates and flowers. Those who don't have much to celebrate on either Valentine's Day or White Day celebrate their independence by dining on bowls of black noodles on April 14. PHILIPPINES Apart from the usual tradition of flowers and chocolates on Valentine’s Day, most couples in the Philippines officiate their marriages on February 14th. Mass wedding ceremonies have gained popularity in the

Philippines in recent years, leading to hundreds of couples gathering at malls and other public areas around the country to say I do or renew their vows. These huge events are often sponsored by the government as a form of public service.

to their lovers back home. Lovers exchange unique and beautifully handcrafted wooden spoons known as love spoons to each other. Since the 16th century, Welsh men curved intricate wooden spoons as a token of affection for women they loved.

BULGARIA

ESTONIA AND FINLAND

According to AdventureFlair, Bulgarians Celebrate Valentine’s Day by pruning vines. They refer to it as The Wine Holiday. Winegrowers gather and bring fresh bread, fried chicken and wine vessels. Together they select the king – the best producer of grapes and wine, make him a crown of vines. For more Bulgarians February 14 is entwined with wine and love. Young and old couples celebrate their love with a glass of local wine. They believe that if you are in a relationship you can celebrate with your partner, and if you are not you can just get wine drunk.

The two countries celebrate February 14 by honouring both friendship and romantic love. Estonia celebrates friendship day known as Sõbrapäev. Gifts and cards are given to anyone considered a friend, including neighbours. This is an inclusive day, not just for couples, so family members and friends exchange gifts and celebrate love. Estonia also has a tradition for single people to ride on the Love Bus in hopes of meeting someone special.

WALES The Welsh don't have to wait until February 14 to let their lovers know how they feel. The country celebrates its day of love on January 25, which is called Saint Dwynwen's Day, the Welsh patron saint of lovers. This makes her the Welsh equivalent of St Valentine. On this day, men traditionally gift women with hand-carved wooden spoons. The tradition is based on the notion that Welsh sailors carved designs into wooden spoons while at sea to bring back

JAPAN Women in Japan make the first move by giving men gifts. They give out two kinds of chocolate; honmei choco, which is more expensive and often homemade. It is usually given to a special friend as a way of expressing love to that person. Women also prepare bags of giri choco, an inexpensive chocolate, to pass out to friends. Men return the gesture on March 14, known as White Day. Men gift women with white chocolate and other gifts as a sign of their affection. White Day is also marked in other Asian countries including Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Myanmar.

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Valentine's Day / National Chocolate Day... FRIDAY, 12TH FEBRUARY, 2021

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COVID-19: Ghana to experience ‘e-valentine’ Online and social media platforms are likely to host lovers for this year’s Saint Valentine’s Day celebration on February 14, in Ghana. This follows the closure of pubs, restaurants and clubs to contain the spread of COVID-19. Despite uncertainties of how the celebration will go with the closure of entertainment centres, managers of gifts shops are aggressively marketing love products through all platforms, with e-commerce, leading arguably. Ms Shani Khadijah, Chief Executive Officer of Chic Events, a dealer in Valentine’s Day packages, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that he was reaching his clients through e-commerce channels with less physical interactions. “Most customers now prefer using the e-commerce way of doing business. They usually make payments through mobile money and e-cards, which is even better, because, the virus is fast spreading and there should be less physical interaction to prevent its spread,’’ she said. Ms Khadijah said despite

the closure of pubs, clubs, restaurants and eateries, clients were still showing great interest in the celebration, some ordering for home deliveries. “In February last year, COVID was not intense in Ghana so I was advertising on both social media platforms and through physical interactions with people. This year has been different because it is solely an online advertisement and I’m enjoying it. The response is great.” Ms Khadijah said her sales had sky-rocketed with the “special home delivery” service, which she said young lovers were using a surprise package for their partners. Madam Yvonne Nuoriyee, CEO of Edible Treats, said she was well prepared for the celebration because she had purchased all necessary items needed for packaging and selling, especially online, due to COVID-19. “I have already bought all needed items like chocolates,

biscuits, drinks and other edibles for packaging which are selling at a usual pace,” she said. “I do advertisements on various social media platforms as well and that has made people glued to my packages. Since the upsurge in COVID-19 cases, we conduct business using e-commerce channels and our customers are now used to it,” she said. Madam Nuoriyee said to ensure the protection of customers from the virus, packages were delivered to customers through delivery personnel with strict adherence to all safety protocols. “I wash and sanitise the items properly before preparing the packages for customers. Dispatch riders are also supervised to observe all safety protocols to prevent them from spreading it to customers and vice versa. Customers who purchase from us physically are also supervised to observe all safety protocols before entering the shop,” she said.

Madam Nuoriyee said products like Boujee, Mi Amor, My Val, Bisc-Choc Bouquet, Mon Cherie and Money Bouquet, were already “hot cakes”, with many clients being online. Mrs Shirley Galenku, a Senior Nurse, said she and her husband would celebrate the day online because she would be night duty. She said she planned to order some gifts to be delivered to her husband and would also engage him online when less busy. Paul Asante, a Student, said because of the closure of entertainment centres, he would spend the day with his girlfriend in his house but “the fun will be online. We will be checking stuff online and connecting with others.” The GNA gathered that customised towels, shirts and mugs, diaries, chocolates, wine and teddy bears are in hot demand. GNA

Gifts shops regaining life as Valentine Day approaches Gifts shops in Ghana’s capital, Accra, are gradually becoming, the talk of town a week ahead of the celebration of Saint Valentine’s Day. The shops, mostly decorated in red colours, are stocked with teddy bears, champagne, flowers and chocolates of different brands. Madam Naa Aku, who has multiple gift shops at Makola, said, “I am trading in these items because of the Valentine season. The prices have changed and people are not really purchasing

them like they used to but we will still celebrate.” She said a “love” teddy bear could cost between GHC190 and GHC220 and hopeful sales would pick up before the day- February 14. Madam Abena Oforiwaa, a trader in chocolates and hampers, said patronage of chocolate was high. The Ghana News Agency observed that the city was gradually being painted red with ‘love decorations’ at malls and

other trading centres. The fun appears bigger online and on social media platforms with dealers in E-Commerce attracting clients with juicy Valentine gifts. Each year on February 14, people exchange cards, candy or flowers with their special “valentine.” St. Valentine’s Day is named for a Christian martyr and dates back to the 5th century, but has origins in the Roman holiday Lupercalia. GNA

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Valentine's Day / National Chocolate Day... FRIDAY, 12TH FEBRUARY, 2021

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National Chocolate Week: GTA, partners donate chocolate, PPEs to health workers The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), in collaboration with the Cocoa Processing Companies (CPC) and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has donated chocolates and Cocoa products to the Ghana Medical Association (GMA). Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and assorted items were also donated to show love and appreciation to frontline health workers for their timely service in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. Chief Executive Officer of GTA, Akwasi Agyeman, said the donation was to celebrate the health workers for their illustrious service to the country. He noted frontline health workers had given their utmost dedication to the country during the pandemic.

He also observed that Covid-19 has “taught us, as a people, the need to adopt local solutions to our local problems.” “We have realised that as a country we need to produce what we need. This is a reason why as we have partnered with COCOBOD to make the National Chocolate Week a remarkable one,” he added. Mr Agyeman said the tourism industry had been hit hard in this pandemic, especially in the hospitality industry since travelers and revelers were not allowed to frequent tourist centres. He, however, advised operators of the industry to abide by safety protocols, adding that, they were collaborating with stakeholders to ensure that the protocols are

observed. Deputy CEO of COCOBOD, Dr Emmanuel Opoku, said the celebration of the National Chocolate Week was to sensitise the public on the health and nutritional benefits of cocoa. He said Cocoa was nutritional in boosting one’s immune system and providing vitality. “Cocoa aside it’s nutritional and health benefits to us, it is paramount to our economic growth as a country,” he said. Dr Justice Yankson, General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association, commended the GTA and partners for the donation. He advised the public to play their part in the fight against the pandemic, saying, Covid-19 was real and not a figment of one’s imagination.

“The best way to protect ourselves was through the observance of the safety protocols including the wearing of nose masks and the washing of hands and practicing social distance,” he said. The Parties under the auspices of Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture launched the National Chocolate Week on the theme, “Eat Chocolate, Stay Healthy, Grow Ghana”. The long-week celebration is organised every February 14 to promote the consumption of chocolate and other Cocoa based products. It is also to gives a healthy orientation to the celebration of Valentine’s Day in Ghana and generate more revenue for national development.

Valentine's Day / National Chocolate Day... FRIDAY, 12TH FEBRUARY, 2021

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Tema traders ready for Valentine’s Day celebration With just about three more days to this year’s Valentine’s Day celebration, some traders and shops in the Central Business District of Tema have started preparations towards the day stockpiling the shops with varieties of chocolate. The day, also known as Chocolate Day in Ghana, helps

to boost the sale of chocolate products, encourage Ghanaians to eat made in Ghana chocolate and people show their love by exchanging gifts. A Ghana News Agency team tour around the Tema Community One market and other parts of the Central Business District at Tema, between Monday and Thursday

revealed that most traders who sell on tabletops have displayed variety of chocolate products ranging from chocolate bars to toffees, evidently only few people visited the shops, some to inquire of the prices and others to purchase the products. The shops, mostly decorated in red and white colours, were

stocked with teddy bears, champagne, red flowers and different brands of chocolate products. In an interaction with a trader called Maame Afia who intimated that sales were a bit slow, but hopeful when the Valentine’s Day approaches, sales should pick up.

Valentine's Day / National Chocolate Day... FRIDAY, 12TH FEBRUARY, 2021

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Valentine's Day social custom Valentine’s Day, also called St. Valentine’s Day, holiday (February 14) when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts. The holiday has origins in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, held in mid-February. The festival, which celebrated the coming of spring, included fertility rites and the pairing off of women with men by lottery. At the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I replaced Lupercalia with St. Valentine’s Day. It came to be celebrated as a day of romance from about the 14th century. Valentine's Day is celebrated on Sunday, February 14, 2021. Although there were several

Christian martyrs named Valentine, the day may have taken its name from a priest who was martyred about 270 CE by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus. According to legend, the priest signed a letter “from your Valentine” to his jailer’s daughter, whom he had befriended and, by some accounts, healed from blindness. Other accounts hold that it was St. Valentine of Terni, a bishop, for whom the holiday was named, though it is possible the two saints were actually one person. Another common legend states that St. Valentine defied the emperor’s orders and secretly

married couples to spare the husbands from war. It is for this reason that his feast day is associated with love. Formal messages, or valentines, appeared in the 1500s, and by the late 1700s commercially printed cards were being used. The first commercial valentines in the United States were printed in the mid-1800s. Valentines commonly depict Cupid, the Roman god of love, along with hearts, traditionally the seat of emotion. Because it was thought that the avian mating season begins in mid-February, birds also became a symbol of the day. Traditional gifts include

candy and flowers, particularly red roses, a symbol of beauty and love. The day is popular in the United States as well as in Britain, Canada, and Australia, and it is also celebrated in other countries, including Argentina, France, Mexico, and South Korea. In the Philippines, it is the most common wedding anniversary, and mass weddings of hundreds of couples are not uncommon on that date. The holiday has expanded to expressions of affection among relatives and friends. Many schoolchildren exchange valentines with one another on this day.