Chocolate ... Most of us love it, some more than others. We eat it in the form of candy bars and drink it in hot cocoa and chocolate milk. A recent survey reported that Americans consume around 11.7 pounds of chocolate per year!
The U.S. is not alone in its love for chocolate. In fact, we are ranked eighth in worldwide chocolate consumption. Switzerland, the country where milk chocolate was first created in 1876, leads the world with 20.7 pounds per person. Austria is not far behind at 19.6 pounds.
Learn how the world's chocolate factories keep up with our cravings by checking out the sites below:
History of Chocolate
Start your journey by learning about the industry as a whole and the history of the cocoa bean. Find out what goes on in a chocolate factory and why so much secrecy exists between competitors.
From Bean to Bar
Explore what makes Hershey's such a success. Follow a cocoa bean as it is made into a bar of Hershey's Chocolate.
Exploratorium: Exploring Chocolate
Take a closer look at the chocolate-making process and the science behind creating a high-quality batch of this sweet treat. This site also includes a video tour of the Scharffen Berger chocolate factory.
The Taste of Chocolate
Explore the different types of chocolate, including baking chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate.