Chocolate is Good for You!

[Daft Bat]

How do I know? Well, published today, 27th October back in 1875, the following advert appeared in the Globe newspaper:
Fry’s Extract of Cocoa – of great value to invalids who wish to avoid rich articles of diet “Which really consists of Cocoa Nibs deprived of the superfluous oil”.

This was from J.S. Fry & Sons, a business that had been in operation since 1756. In 1866 they produced their famous cream bar and also the first pure cocoa powder called Chocolate Essence.

But I do wonder how they “deprived the nibs of superfluous oil”…

 

[Elma]

Many of my family worked in the Fry's factory in Bristol. We heard many stories. Interestingly my 84 year old brother who has dementia, often buys 6 or more Fry's chocolate cream bars and he doesn't eat them. I realised why and that was when we were little our mum would send us kids to the shop to buy her ciggies and a Fry's chocolate cream bar. She also was reminiscing of her younger days. I make do with a Fry's chocolate cream bar magnet on the fridge.

 

[Bay Horse]

Oh, @Elma, that's strange. When in town on market day (because we lived 'out in the sticks'), that was my errand - popping through to the little newsagents for cigarettes and a Fry's chocolate cream. The latter was my reward for going. I still love them now.

 

[mikejee]

Cadburys claimed their cocoa essence was the pure product. Never heard of Frys chocolate essence. But anyway Cadburys purchased them in the early 1900s. Regretably, 20 years or so ago, the marketing people decided that the texture was not right and altered the recipe (still the same flavour in the chocolate though)