10 REASONS WHY CHOCOLATE SHOULD BE DECLARED A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE.

A group of us Chocolatiers noted with alarm that there was some discussion among some French culinary practitioners, in Paris, to declare French cuisine a part of UNESCO World Heritage.Of course that is quite absurd.The only thing quite international about French food is probably French Fries. But that was invented by the Belgians. Indonesian cuisine is much older, more sophisticated, more complex and more varied.But we put that aside for a while.

However we felt that if any food should be declared as part of the UNESCO World Heritage it should be chocolate or cocoa.Here are our reasons. UNESCO please take note.

1)Chocolate has been a thrilling, multi-dimensional, monument to man's ingenuity for 3000 years.

2)Chocolate is "exceptional in its universal application.It now belongs to all the peoples of the world." Not to Switzerland nor to Belgium.

3) Chocolate begins with the humblest and most needed segment of mankind--the smallholder farmer. Fifty million of them located along the equator, around the world.

4)Chocolate is the world's biggest "monument" in the world, stretching from Mexico to
the South Pacific islands.

5) Cocoa and Chocolate continuously challenges and excites the creativity of a community of millions of artisans, hobbyists, home industries, manufacturers and scientists and technologists.

6) Chocolate is the world most loved and respected flavour.

7)A potential exists for Chocolate as an universal food solution: nutritious, satisfying and uplifting.

8)Today it has acquired and has been absorbed into the cultural characteristics of the hundreds countries in which is enjoyed.

9)Chocolate and Cocoa have enhanced more foods round the world than any other flavour or food.

10)There is always a chocolate for every person. From a mini bar or wafer costing 5 cents to $250 per praline.

There is obviously no other food that deserves to be declared a world treasure and part of UNESCO World Heritage.