Thank you!!!

I'd like to give a big huge THANK YOU to all of you who came to our acoustic show Friday night and to the Jefferson Street show tonight! Good times and great music were shared by all!

I can't wait for next month!

The Easter Bunny Has Arrived!

It is that time of year again and on April 4th, the Easter Bunny officially does his duty, but until then, swing by Bittersweet to get all those little gifts that you need.

Looking for a cute little something to give to a coworker or friend? We got it! That special little gift that shows you care? We got it! Or the tasty treat for a loved one? We got it!

Spring has definitely sprung. The beautiful weather is the perfect time to get your garden back into shape. Bittersweet has the gifts for the gardening gurus in your life.

We even have a fun Bunny Hunt Game with chocolate rewards. This one is fun for the whole family to play together. And for the little baker in the bunch, a cute bunny or chick filled with cookie cutters and chocolate.

You may not see any chocolate bunnies in this post but we have them aplenty in the store, milk and dark. Every size and shape you are looking for, including the cute little placesetting ones that are so popular.

And in this time of sun and warmth don't forget to drop by for a fabulous milkshake or sundae. The perfect way to cap of a lovely day in the park.

See ya soon!

Just a reminder...

Howdy folks,

I just wanted to give you all a reminder that our first (hopefully of many) blood drive is going on next Thursday, March 25, from 11am-5pm. We have a sign up sheet at the store, and if you can't make it by here to sign up, you can still do so by clicking here! It's as simple as that! Spread the word!

We will have a table set up so that everyone who donates will get one of our incredible hand-made truffles to savor afterwards.

I look forward to meeting you all, and I would personally like to extend my gratitude to all of you for taking to the time to help us help others!

Thanks!

How much caffeine is in chocolate?

I recently came across a posting by the California Academy of Sciences, in conjunction with the Chocolate Exhibition, about some interesting chocolate health facts. Here are a few excerpts. Feel free to follow the link to get all the information.

"Does chocolate cause cavities? Not necessarily. According to a recent study, cacao contains antibacterial agents that actually fight tooth decay. However, most mass-produced chocolate contains sugar, which probably counteracts the benefits of these agents."

"Will the caffeine in chocolate make me jittery? Probably not. Cacao does contain a number of stimulants, such as caffeine and theobromine, but in small amounts that are diluted even further when processed into chocolate. In fact, one ounce of milk chocolate contains about the same amount of caffeine as one cup of decaffeinated coffee. Interestingly, one study has shown that the smell of chocolate may actually relax you by increasing theta waves in the brain."

"Will I live longer if I eat chocolate? Perhaps. A Harvard University study found that men who ate chocolate lived one year longer than those who didn’t. Scientist think that chocolate contains chemicals that help keep blood vessels elastic and increase beneficial antioxidants in the bloodstream, but research is underway and no conclusive results have been found. "

Enjoy!

Follow Our Coffee Blog

We are proud to announce Bittersweet's new Coffee Blog! Ian Riley our roaster extraordinaire is blogging about his exploits and discoveries in the world of coffee roasting.

If you would like to learn more about how it is done, check it out and follow along.

Join the team!

We are looking for a hard-working, outgoing person who has a love for all things chocolate & coffee!

The barista position is part-time, averaging about 12-20 hours per week with the possibility of receiving more. Prior café experience is a definite plus, but we are ready to train the right person.

If you're interested, please stop by and drop off your resume!
We look forward to hearing from you!

Chocolate May Make Some Strokes Less Likely

Yet again another health benefit to eating dark chocolate.

In news, reported by HealthDay, that's sure to delight chocolate lovers, a Harvard study finds that a couple of squares of dark chocolate a day might reduce the risk of a hemorrhagic stroke, by 52 percent.

"There are several possible mechanisms, but the effect of rich cocoa on cardiovascular health seems to be through its effect on blood pressure, and the capacity to improve the flexibility of the blood vessels," said study author Dr. Martin Lajous, a doctoral candidate at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

"In the context of an appropriate intake, eating small amounts of cocoa could be beneficial," Lajous said. "There are several possible mechanisms, but the effect of rich cocoa on cardiovascular health seems to be through its effect on blood pressure, and the capacity to improve the flexibility of the blood vessels."

Wow! Good for your brain and for your heart. Why wouldn't you eat dark chocolate daily?

Schedule of events for March!

What's coming up here at Bittersweet Danville...

Thursday 3/4: Chocolate Club Meeting with Bittersweet chocolatier Seneca Klaussen. Seats are still available for this informational event!

Saturday 3/6: The musical stylings of Justin Fitch

Friday 3/19: The City of Danville and the VYC present their monthly Acoustic Show (performers TBA)

Thursday 3/25: Bittersweet Danville teams with the American Red Cross for our first blood drive! We need as many people as possible to donate blood and help us make this a success; won't you please help us help those in need? Click here to sign up!

Breathable Chocolate?

Who would have thought they would come up with this one? NPR reported yesterday on a new product available online. It is called Le Whif and it has gotten some favorable reviews. It definitely is new and interesting. It is chocolate in the molecular form and placed in a tube. Open the tube and inhale, you get all the smell and flavor of chocolate without eating it. There are 8-10 "whiffs" per tube.

But does it really satisfy?

Check it out and decide for yourself. I still prefer the edible kind.

Chocolate Club Meeting postponed...

We regret to announce that tonight's meeting has been cancelled but has been rescheduled for next Thursday, March 4 at 8pm! We apologize for the inconvenience.