Theobroma Cacao

"Chocolate should always be taken seriously. However, the way it is served should not."

----- Aaron Maree

Theobroma Cacao, or the cocoa tree, has successfully worked its way through time, writing its name in the history books of the Maya Indians, the Aztecs of Mexico and the Inca of Peru. The humble fruit was used as currency, offered to the gods and worshiped as a pleasurable drink.



The expensive luxury of drinking chocolate was introduced into the courts of England, France, Spain, Italy and Germany during the seventeenth century with the first chocolate house being opened in London in 1657. However, the chocolate of today was not discovered until the Dutch began pressing cocoa butter out of the cocoa beans. This produced a new, less fatty cocoa drink and allowed the cocoa butter to be pressed into bars.




Today, this decadent, seductive, mysterious and completely irresistible delicacy has become a part of many people's daily lives. It has become known as a feel good food. We use it in desserts. We enjoy it by itself, in many forms and concentrations of cocoa. We mix it with seemingly bizarre partners to enrich the flavour, accentuate the taste and heighten the experience. We bake it. We melt it. We use it as a sauce. Is there anything that this treasure, good enough to appease the gods, cannot be used for?

I think not.

Foods for Moods

It's a well known fact that certain foods make us feel good. And there's nothing better than hearing that fact supported by science. Take chocolate for example; not only is its smooth, dark, bitter richness incredibly enjoyable to eat, it's also full of anadamine, a mood brightening chemical. Chocolate also contains other chemicals that cause anadamine to linger in our brains for longer periods of time. Yet another bonus of this delectably bitter-sweet substance that we sometimes take for granted, is that the sugar in it also releases endorphins, again enhancing our good mood.

Other foods such as oily fish like salmon (containing omega 3 fatty acids), bananas with their tryptophan and vitamin B filled broccoli are all famed to make us feel better upon consumption.

Another endorphin filled food, said to be addictive, is he humble chili. Eating spicy food releases these endorphins, brightening our mood to the point that the simple action of eating meals with a bit of zing becomes an addiction.

Knowing this, what better way is there to brighten our mood than eating (an enjoyable act in itself) foods that are scientifically known to make us feel good? Or better yet, why not combine these wonderful ingredients to achieve an explosive mood high? One such example of this is the dubious, yet perfect, combination of chocolate and chili; spicy, smooth, bitter, sweet and incredibly satisfying all in one bite. The two flavours compliment each other like no other combination.

Pictured: Chocolate-chili cupcakes.

Bunya Mountains, Day 3: Exploring

When one finds themselves atop a mountain, surrounded by the most beautiful landscape imaginable, there is little urge for anything other than exploration, followed by relaxation.

Bunya Mountains, Day Two: Settling In

As the differences between suburban life and this mountain getaway are so vast, we are forced to spend a portion of every morning and afternoon exploring our side of the mountain and the views it has to offer. The immediate landscape constantly changes altitude as we travel up and down the greenest of green hills, following the road lined by cabin-like houses. Every few metres we stop to take in the scenery around us as well as the views beyond our mountain site.

The morning air is crisp and almost icy; a surreal change from our usual summer life. The seemingly glacial air performs the perfect task of highlighting the morning shades and colours, making our early stroll all the more worthwhile. An image this good could be found in few other places and its ability to sincerely wake one from morning grogginess is even more unique.

Evening strolls are a complete other situation; the crisp, vibrant colours of the morning are replaces with the smokey hues of an approaching twilight. The sharpness of the air is reversed as the dull breeze eases us into the night.

Bunya Mountains, Day 1: Getting There

Getting there involved leaving a humid 42 degree Suburban Ipswich and travelling North-West through an array of old country towns, barren fields and green pastures to arrive two and a half hours later at Mowbullan amongst the ever-scenic Bunya Mountains.

As we climbed the mountain road, walled by a rainforest archway, the scenery became visibly greener as the air grew cooler and crisper with every corner we rounded. Travelling along these thin mountain roads involves being on constant alert as rainforest creatures, such as wallabies, frequent the path and can be seen dwelling alongside the roads.

Upon arrival at the small settlement of Mountain Chalets, the contrast between the drab city and this green paradise is most apparent. Rather than cement, bitumen, neon lights and a-frame signs, the landscape is strewn with wild life, tropical rainforests and lush green grass; rather than sounds of vehicle engines, construction and the buzz of city life, all that can be heard is the sound of birds calling and the wind blowing through the abundance of trees. Though there is no smog, many of the chalets have smoke billowing from their chimneys as the crisp air often calls for the fire place to be lit.