Yesterday was World Chocolate Day – the perfect excuse to celebrate Cumbrian chocoholics.


The occasion, which is also known as International Chocolate Day, is thought to be the anniversary of the introduction of chocolate to Europe from the Americas in 1550.
Chocolate was known to the inhabitants of Mesoamerica, possibly from almost 2,000 years BC. It was usually consumed as a drink rather than the bars that we eat now.
The confection is made from the seeds of the cacao tree, which in their raw form have an intensely bitter taste.

They must be fermented to develop the flavour, after which the seeds are dried, cleaned, and roasted.
The shell is then removed to produce cocoa nibs, which are ground to form cocoa mass. Next the cocoa mass is liquefied by heating to become chocolate liquor. 
Only now is it ready to be made into chocolate products. 
Chocolate was revered in the Central and South American countries where it originated and, as our pictures show, Cumbrians are pretty fond of it too.
In the first image, Rebecca Musgrave and Eryn Barker are about to tuck into dog-shaped chocolate lollies at Taste Cumbria in Cockermouth.

(Image: Newsquest)
Above is Dene Marshall, head chef at the Dockray Hall pub in Penrith, who chose a chocolate vinaigrette to complement his woodpigeon breast with sour cherries and caramelised fennel. Looks delicious!

(Image: Newsquest)
For desert at the Borrowdale Gates Hotel, chef Chris Standhaven served up hot chocolate fondant with cherry sorbet and pistachio crumble.

(Image: Newsquest)

(Image: Newsquest)

Katie Marshal had fun spooning melted chocolate into Lego men moulds at a baking session at The Beacon in Whitehaven, while Hayden Tyers tucked into chocolate spread on toast for breakfast at Newlaithes Junior School in Carlisle.

(Image: Newsquest)

(Image: Newsquest)

Leon Gibson is pictured adding chocolate sauce to pancakes at Beckstone Primary School and staff at Bells of Lazonby are shown with hot chocolate buns.

(Image: Newsquest)
Tomasz Otulsai encouraged people to buy his Wild Kakao Artisan Chocolate at a Made in Cumbria market in Carlisle.

(Image: Newsquest)
Our last picture shows children from Arlecdon School getting messy with chocolate at a Macmillan Coffee Day. Colette Chambers joins her sons Owen and Alfie and their friends Matthew Creason and Harry Naylor.