When our grandchildren opted not to consume all of their chocolate Easter bunnies, the bunnies missing ears were thoughtfully stored in a Ziploc bag for a later snack. This spring, chocolate is as precious as gold.
It may have escaped your notice, but the chocolate bunnies you purchased this year were slightly smaller than last year’s and commanded a 50% higher price – and this is just the beginning. Hershey executives have hinted at more price increases in the upcoming months. Brace yourself for soaring chocolate costs.
Due to a disappointing cocoa harvest in Africa, the cocoa price has doubled, now reaching twice its previous peak. The majority of cacao trees worldwide are concentrated in West Africa, specifically in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Cameroon. When unexpected Sahara dust storms obstructed sunlight, the cacao bean pods failed to develop properly. Subsequently, heavy rains facilitated the spread of diseases, further diminishing cocoa production.
It seems we must accustom ourselves to the notion of reduced chocolate availability – hence the partially eaten chocolate bunnies stored in our freezer. This scarcity of chocolate will have various implications for us this summer.
You may have observed an increase in non-chocolate candy bars. On Easter, we indulged in lemon Kit Kat bars devoid of any trace of chocolate. What’s next? Yogurt-coated Snickers bars? Butterfingers stripped of their coating, revealing only the orange-hued interiors?
How will s’mores fare this summer? Perhaps we’ll have to settle for a toasted marshmallow sandwiched between two graham crackers. Maybe that’s where the remnants of the chocolate bunnies will come in handy.
We cherish chocolate chips in our pancakes, cookies, muffins, and bars. Now, we may need to substitute raisins, nuts, and dried cranberries in all our desserts.
It appears chocolate-covered strawberries will be absent this summer, along with the morning ritual of hot chocolate.
I possess a fabulous recipe for chocolate sheet cake that demands nearly a cup of cocoa. A swift price check for a 20-ounce Hershey’s cocoa box revealed a steep $20. Looks like I’ll be baking more cherry bars in the days ahead.
The chocolate ice cream you purchase might exhibit a slightly diminished chocolate intensity. The chocolate milk your children consume at school could contain more sugar and less cocoa essence. Prepare for a diluted chocolate experience across the board.
I am particularly fond of dark chocolate, touted for its health benefits due to its antioxidant properties that may aid in reducing bad cholesterol and high blood pressure. Given that dark chocolate bars boast a higher chocolate content than milk chocolate, the price of dark chocolate is anticipated to escalate at a faster pace than other chocolate varieties. What affordable healthy indulgence remains?
And the situation is projected to deteriorate further. Cacao trees thrive in the rainforest regions and are being supplanted annually by alternative crops, potentially leading to fewer chocolate-producing areas in the future.
Savor those chocolate-covered Russell Stover pecan delights and Cadbury chocolate eggs, as they may soon be substituted with lemon-filled yogurt and nut offerings come next Easter.