Who doesn’t love munching on some delicious chocolate every now and then? While most of us probably don’t need a special occasion to eat a chocolaty treat, it obviously doesn’t hurt to have such an occasion. And this is where World Chocolate Day, celebrated annually on 7 July, comes into play. The day was first observed in 2009 and it is said to be held on this particular date in honour of the introduction of chocolate to the European continent in 1550.
The first use of chocolate dates back to 450 BC in the territory of modern Mexico. Bitter beverages made from cacao seeds were served mixed with spices or corn puree. The locals believed these drinks to be an aphrodisiac and to provide the drinker with strength. After cacao beans arrived to Europe in the 16th century, sugar was added to the mix and thus started chocolate’s rise to popularity.
Did you know?
- The world “chocolate” entered the English language through Spanish, which enquired it from the Classical Nahuatl word “chocolātl”.
- During war in the 20th century, chocolate was considered an essential part in the rations of US soldiers.
- The Europeans’ lust for chocolate brought with it the intensification of slave trade as many additional labourers were needed to satisfy the demand.
- Today, the largest producer of cocoa is Côte d'Ivoire, followed by Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon – meaning that about two thirds of the world’s cocoa is produced in West Africa.
If you want to use the occasion of World Chocolate Day not only to eat some chocolate, but also to learn more about the topic itself, then we suggest that you use the Speech Repository. So, why not choose one of our speeches on the topic of chocolate, educate yourself and practise your interpreting skills at the same time?
For a critical view on the topic, might we suggest this English speech about the environmental impact of chocolate or this Dutch speech about chocolate and child labour? How about a speech in French on the history of chocolate? Or a speech in English about cocoa in Ghana? And if you want to practise your Romanian skills, you may want to have a look at this speech about chocolate in general. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!
Happy practice,
Your Speech Repository Team