Crystal Lindell

While it may be easy to understand why ancient cultures thought chocolate could provide an energy boost, and cocoa butter was used to treat skin disease, a new book also reveals that chocolate has been used as a remedy for tuberculosis and even snake bites.

It was about 3,500 years ago, in 1500 B.C. somewhere in South Central Mexico that a culinary genius amongst the Olmecs first realized that cocoa should be used for food.

The adorable Jelly Belly Hello Kitty Bean-Shaped Candy Dish features Hello Kitty peeking over the top of a ceramic bean-shaped dish.

“The husband and wives are going to do a $40 box of chocolates and flowers,” explains Rob Auerbach . “We’re going more for the impulse purchase. The ‘I’m going to get my professor in college this, or my neighbor or my friend that. It’s not the heavy-duty romantic.”

Barry Callebaut hopes to train about 300 farmers in cocoa husbandry in the first year that its new Cocoa Center of Excellence in Côte d'Ivoire is open.

As I reached for my traditional breakfast of Peanut M&M’S this morning (peanuts=protein=healthy), and read a recent column in LA Weekly claiming women don’t like chocolate, well, I started to get really upset.

Rhonda Carano, co-founder of Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery, may be in the wine business, but growing up she was in awe of something a little sweeter.

On the heels of interactive Radz winning Tillywig Toy's Spring 2013 Top Fun Award, this triple treat — a toy, a candy and a virtual experience — is now a triple industry winner.

Barry Callebaut has further strengthened its local presence in Mexico and Central America, and moved closer to its customers there by opening a second factory in the country.

Despite a very short Easter season in 2013, with just 44 days between Valentine's Day and Easter, overall candy sales were up for the season.