On this episode I sat down with Lee Theisen, the Chocolate Guru (@chocolate_guru). Lee teaches the history, science and art of chocolate at UCLA, is an author, chocolate festival judge, avid world traveler and art scholar.

Now why an episode on chocolate? After all this show is about connection and leveling up our world, so where does the food fit into this?

Well I love to break it to you, there is more to chocolate than meets the eye. For thousands of years it has been produced and consumed as a means of connection. First by the ancient Olmec’s and Aztecs to reach the gods then by the Europeans as a social lubricant in the chocolate houses, and as we all know has become synonymous with love, romance and seduction in the modern world. It’s now a hot item in the superfoods isle because for its proven benefits on the mind and body.

But why is this? We dive into the history of cacao and it’s mythological symbolism, it’s effects on the mental and emotional chemistry of human beings, as well as it’s nutritional and medicinal properties. Lee also shares thoughts on the state of the craft Chocolate industry, where its evolving in the near future, and how to know if you’re getting quality chocolate or the toxic candy stuff.

All this said, it was a blast chatting with the Guru and if you have the slightest interest in chocolate and all it’s magic, I think you will enjoy this show and maybe even love chocolate even more after listening.

And if you’re really into it, the guru is working on a book on the comprehensive history of chocolate, and organizing a chocolate festival in the coming year, so you can give him a follow on Instagram @chocolate_guru to follow along his journey.

So without further ado here is the one and only Lei Tyson the chocolate guru himself!

Website: http://www.chocolate-guru.com/

Show Notes:

Chocolate is one of the most wonderful foods in the world and affects the brain because of its serotonin and theobromine, it gives energy, it’s sensual and makes us feel good
Cacao was originally consumed as the pulp around the seed. The trees date back to millions of years ago when the continents first separated
Cacao began to be drunk in a spiritual way about 3,000 years ago, it became part of the religion and how they viewed themselves.
The Aztecs and mayan believed the cacao looked like the shape of a heart
Cacao for thousands of years represented connection between human and spirit world
Some Mayan kings called themselves Lord Cacao
The Spanish evaporated the spiritual aspect of chocolate, but held onto the medicinal and sensual aspects of it
The Mayans and Aztecs didn’t know much about the chemical properties but still knew it gave them energy… it was the gateway drink to coffee and tea
Cacao not only stimulates the mind but the cardiovascular system as well
Chemicals in chocolate affect women differently than they affect men
Dutch processed cocoa is stripped of the flavanols from cacao, as well as many of the other beneficial nutrients
Cortes said a man with chocolate can go a whole day without needing anything else to eat
Hershey’s chocolate bars are only 1/10 of an ounce of chocolate, everything else is milk, sugar, and other stuff
Cacao nibs are one of the purest anti-oxidants you can find… they are 5x higher than the next highest anti-oxidant like blueberries and acai
Lee fell in love with chocolate when his grandma would spread and melt chocolate on biscuits, then Lee got into baking and always hosted dinner parties with chocolate, then he got fascinated with the food processing process, then moved to Hawaii where he met cacao growers and makers, then came back to teach at UCLA on economics of chocolate
Cacao has been shown to increase blood flow and even bring back memories
Taiwan has chocolate bars with dried shrimp in it
In Europe chocolate used to only be drunk by the rich at the chocolate houses, the first one in England opened in 1647. Charles II tried to ban them because they were being used for political purposes
Chocolate was also used to help wean people off alcohol
Lee uses chili in baking, drinking, and even making chilis and stews
Books like Bean to Bar chocolate and many other great histories of chocolate can be found online
Lee is working on a book on chocolate, as well as organizing a chocolate festival