Chocolate for chocolate’s sake is just not cutting it anymore with consumers.  Apparently we are demanding chocolate with more meaning, purpose, and benefit.

The general term for this type of chocolate is “functional chocolate.”   Functional chocolates supply a nutritional benefit and chocolate is a good vehicle for transporting things like vitamins, probiotics, omega-3, and calcium.

In the last couple years, a few companies have introduced functional chocolates and one of them is Maramor Chocolates.  You can find some of their products at Walgreen’s and GNC stores across the nation.

The Maramor website, explains that they started as a chocolate shop inside an Ohio restaurant in 1923.  The shop made hand-crafted chocolates and sold them retail for years.  Later the shop evolved into a large scale manufacturing facility. 

Today, Maramor offers functional chocolates that include probiotic and omega-3 in both milk and dark chocolate.  They recently added a calcium truffle.

According to a 2008 consumer survey, about 21 per cent of chocolate lovers are interested in chocolate that has added functional ingredients.

Watch out, though.  Functional chocolate continues to be controversial when it comes to health claims and regulating standards.

First and foremost, I choose to eat chocolate because I enjoy the flavor, the aroma, and the luxury of something rich and decadent.  But if I am going to snack on something, it might as well be chocolatey and nutritious.

Its nice having options!

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Bryn Kirk

Course Facilitator at Chocolate University Online

Bryn worked for nearly 10 years in a research and product development for Ambrosia Chocolate Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Now she develops all of the CUO lessons and coaches the members of the Primal Chocolate Club.

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