Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Polls Confirm the Worst: Israeli Chocolate Consumption Lowest in Western World

After last night's Likud leadership election came to a close, with Netanyahu leading at 47%, Shalom at 33, and Moshe Feiglin at 15% (more than 3 times his previous showing), the real bad news has been confirmed by YNET. Israeli chocolate consumption has reached an all time low.

The CIA has reported that chocolate consumption per capita in Israel is among the lowest in the western world, totaling approximately 3 Kilograms (6.6 pounds) of chocolate per year.

The health benefits of chocolate are well known, and studies have found that a substance in cocoa helps the body process nitric oxide (NO), a compound critical for healthy blood flow and blood pressure. (Ariel Sharon should be reading this).

Another study showed that flavonols in cocoa prevent fat-like substances in the bloodstream from oxidizing and clogging the arteries, and make blood platelets less likely to stick together and cause clots. Other added bonuses exist as well.

Granted, there's no competition between fine British Chocolate such as Cadbury's and Israel's Elite chocolate, but for our own sake - please go out and eat some, today.

As you can see, its a bit of a slow news day; why don't you mention in the comments section that you dropped by to say hi. Its always more interesting to see comments from people and where they're from. Just think - you may win a shabbat invitation to the Muqata as well.



Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael

40 comments:

Jerusalemcop said...

hi. from jerusalem

Dont think they'd let me back into the muqata after what happened last time ;)

J.

Jameel @ The Muqata said...

J-cop: Thanks. Guess you're the ony one with the needed guts to add a comment today. Over 90 people have visted today and only ONE has left a comment.

What a sorry state of blog readers.

And to think, I even included the shabbat invitation as well.

Critically Observant Jew said...

Don't know about you and maybe there's something with my tastes, but I would prefer Elite bars over any other ones in a second. Especially for the ones with nuts and the aerated ones. (Too bad I'm chutz l'aretz and those are not always available). As for Shabbat invitation, I'm all for it - when I make aliyah that is.

tafka PP said...

Eh? Who the hell did they interview? "Vafflim"-lovers?

Disgrace. I might just found an organization of Israeli Chocoholics in protest. (And Chocolate Ice-cream, cake or "Shoko-Be'Sakit" does NOT count)

Anonymous said...

You are still inviting people after the Amshinover.-you had too much chocolate.

Anonymous said...

I suggest dropping the verification and see if it makes a difference in the number of comments.

Lab Rab said...

Pesek Zman was always my favorite ...

Jameel @ The Muqata said...

Daat Y: Lets see what happens (and if the spam monsters arrive). I removed the letter blockers.

So far: 103 visitors today, and only 5 unique commenters.

Still pathetic.

I would like to thank the loyal readers who did comment. Shkoyech.

Anonymous said...

Brand new to this blog (already loving it)... just trying to boost the ratio of commenting blog-readers. Assuming 21 people haven't read this without posting since Jameel's last I've accomplished my goal.

Keep it up!

Jameel @ The Muqata said...

Hey anonymous - what continent are you from? What did you like?

ifyouwillit... said...

Here's another shout out from Jerusalem.

Give me Cadbury's Dairy Milk any day, failing that, a Lion or Boost will do the trick.

Batya said...

I raised my kids on carob. It took years until they discovered that I had been tricking them.

Irina Tsukerman said...

Hi,
Stranded here in Brooklyn. (Transit strike)
What is interesting to analyze is WHY chocolate consumption is so low... Is there a secret anti-chocolate campaign going on? Is this the beginning of the Great Chocolate War?

Little Wolf said...

Umm, . . . Chocolate, food of the gods. Is there anything that can't be plagerized from the Simpsons.

I haven't had Elite Chocolate, but I find these chocolate filled wafer cookies from Israel at the one local kosher grocer/restuarant.

As for favorite chocolate, I can't remember the manufacturer but it is called Aero Mint. My wife has a friend from a former job that is from Ireland, and everytime she would go home she would bring back a suitcase full of chocolate. I really miss that chocolate, there was a local store that would carry it on occasion, but they stopped carrying it after a while. (I also like the Nestle's Wonka Bars w/ Graham cracker bits, and of course Reese's Cups.)

Jack Steiner said...

Good chocolate is always good and bad chocolate is not so bad, or so my coworker once told me.

rockofgalilee said...

Aerated chocolate is the biggest scam. They put in less chocolate, fill it with air like a baloon and make believe it is the greatest thing since almonds. (which is also a smaller bar for the same price)

Mar Gavriel said...

Sorry. I don't particularly like chocolate.

My yearly intake of chocolate is probably lower than that of any other reader of this blog.

Jameel @ The Muqata said...

MG: But its good for you!

Little Wolf said...

rockofgalilee:

I am not so impressed about the aeration of the chocolate as the taste of the chocolate and mint in that particular bar. They also make other bars that aren't aerated that are quite tasty also, but the mint it the Aero Mint is just wonderful.

2R said...

I did my part in boosting the choc economy today...
tempted by the invite to the muqata...

Ezzie said...

Not a big chocolate guy, but I'll note that we did a blind taste test in OJ: Hershey's vs. Brown Cow vs. Nestle vs. Shoko. Shoko won with almost everybody.

And you can't complain about comments - I get a nice share of readers and almost no comments, though I've gotten some the last couple days. It depends on the post!

(btw, I'd keep verification on. I don't think that that's what stops people.)

Anonymous said...

Jameel,

It really must be a slow day. Don't forget your Shabbat invitation next time you in the Los Angeles area.

-- yud groupie

tafka PP said...

Anyone who thinks Hersheys is good chocolate is not allowed to join my club.

Jack Steiner said...

Guess that I am out of that club. Rats.

Jameel @ The Muqata said...

I used to think Hershey's was decent Chocolate, till I was introduced to the world of Cadbury's.

Its an entirely different league.

Jack: If you haven't had some - you should try it.

Even Elite "cow" chocolate (as its called here) tastes better than Hershey's (IMHO)

Jameel @ The Muqata said...

2R: If you want an invite - feel free to coordinate with J.J. and come over!

westbankmama said...

I can't believe there are people in the world who don't like chocolate!!!!

I ate Hersheys in America, I settle for Elite here, and I grab Cadburys when I can find it (alas, not sold in my local makolet).

And to the poster who fed her kids carob, I would report you to a social worker if I could figure out who you are...If that isn't child abuse, I don't know what is.

Cosmic X said...

I guess the poll did not include the chocolate spread that some Israeli's put on their bread.

Yechs!!!!

Jameel @ The Muqata said...

Cosmic: Chocolate Spread on bread is a food group in and of itself.

In yeshiva we used to have special choclate spread on shabbat morning.

The rumor was that it was made from margarine and sugar, and got its brown color from being rolled around on the kitchen floor. (Hence the name, "Creme De Yavneh")

Litvshe said...

Nutella is the only chocolate spread for me. Anyway, having grown up on South African chocolate which is mostly Cadbury's I never was able to properly enjoy a Hershey's bar. But give me Reese's any day of the week.

Jameel @ The Muqata said...

Litvish: Once you've had Cadbury's there isn't anyting to enjoy in a Hershey bar.

Anonymous said...

Hershey's - TAFKAPP is right! I must really be needing a chocolate fix if I find myself eating their chocolate. Now Cadbury, See's and Ghirardelli - YUMMY! (And of course, Elite - anything hazelnut -delicious.)

Yitzchak Goodman said...

Chocolate is really, really, really beneficial when it is embedded in choclate chip cookies.

Karl said...

After being brought up on Cadbury's, Hershy's doesnt even come close and is at the end of the list. Although there is no equivalent of Reeses peanut butter cups. Now I only do cholov yisrael, Belgium / Swiss chocolate is so much better that The Red Cow - but also more expensive. Have you tried Max Brenner's "Chocolate by the Bald Man" - I hear its very good but not C.Y. :-( If you want a decent parev chocolate around here, try Green & Blacks.

Jameel @ The Muqata said...

Karl: I'll have to try Green & Black's - I've never heard of it before.

Karl said...

Max Brenner(Israeli) has a place on Emek - used to be sold here in Harrods! Green & Blacks(British) are organic. The plain chocolate is parev. The rest are verified kosher by KLBD

Milhouse said...

Cadbury isn't really much better than Elite, in my opinion.

If you know anyone coming from Australia, ask them to bring you some Alpha chocolates. That's a real mechayeh.

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