Does Chocolate Contain Caffeine? Part 2

What a beautiful day today. Again, a little warm-HOT- really. In the next few days it's supposed to cool down a bit, however.

To continue our discussion on whether Chocolate has caffeine---

It would seem that the assumption Chocolate contains caffeine is based primarily on a confusion between two similar alkaloids: caffeine and Theobromine. Theobromine is the active ingredient in Chocolate and it occurs only in Cacao. The two stimulants are related and have a similar structures, but are very different chemicals with different properties, effects and origins. There are of course, some Chocolate products that have added caffeine, but it does not occur naturally in Chocolate.

The Biochemist, (Apr/May 1993, p 15) did chemical composition tests where they specifically distinguished between Caffeine and Theobromine. They found regularly up to 1.3% by weight Theobromine in Chocolate. They also found other pharmacologically active compounds including up to 2.20% Phenylethylamine up to 1.54% Tele-methylhistamine and occasionally up to 5.82% Serotonin-all mood enhancing properties. Caffeine was not detected at all.

This debate will probably continue. However, all indications seem to show that Chocolate does not contain caffeine, or if it is added in a finished chocolate product, it is usually in such small amounts compared with the caffeine naturally occurring in coffee.

Continued tomorrow--

Take care-Stay cool,
Donna