The world’s biggest chocolate-maker says we’re running out of chocolate

The problem is climate change but the solution in part is stop eating so much dark chocolate

There's no easy way to say this: You're eating too much chocolate, all of you. And it's getting so out of hand that the world could be headed towards a potentially disastrous (if you love chocolate) scenario if it doesn't stop.

Those are, roughly speaking, the words of two huge chocolate makers, Mars, Inc. and Barry Callebaut. And there's some data to back them up.

Chocolate deficits, whereby farmers produce less cocoa than the world eats, are becoming the norm. Already, we are in the midst of what could be the longest streak of consecutive chocolate deficits in more than 50 years. It also looks like deficits aren't just carrying over from year-to-year—the industry expects them to grow. Last year, the world ate roughly 70,000 metric tons more cocoa than it produced. By 2020, the two chocolate-makers warn that that number could swell to 1 million metric tons, a more than 14-fold increase; by 2030, they think the deficit could reach 2 million metric tons.

The problem is, for one, a supply issue. Dry weather in West Africa (specifically in the Ivory Coast and Ghana, where more than 70 percent of the world's cocoa is produced) has greatly decreased production in the region. A nasty fungal disease known as frosty pod hasn't helped either. The International Cocoa Organization estimates it has wiped out between 30 percent and 40 percent of global coca production. Because of all this, cocoa farming has proven a particularly tough business, and many farmers have shifted to more profitable crops, like corn, as a result.

Then there's the world's insatiable appetite for chocolate. China's growing love for the stuff is of particular concern. The Chinese are buying more and more chocolate each year. Still, they only consume per capita about 5 percent of what the average Western European eats. There's also the rising popularity of dark chocolate, which contains a good deal more cocoa by volume than traditional chocolate bars (the average chocolate bar contains about 10 percent, while dark chocolate often contains upwards of 70 percent).

Boston Banana Creme Pie Recipe

Ingredients

Cake:

• 1 1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
• 3/4 Cup Sugar
• 2 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 2/3 Cup Milk
• 1/4 Cup Melted Butter
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 Egg

Filling:

• 1/2 Cup Sugar
• 3 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
• 1/8 teaspoon Salt
• 1 1/4 Cup Milk
• 1 Egg, -- Slightly Beaten
• 1 tablespoon Butter
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 3 Medium Bananas, -- Cut into 1/4 Inch Slices

Glaze:

• 1 ounce Unsweetened Chocolate
• 2 tablespoons Butter
• 1 Cup Powdered Sugar
• Dash of Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Almond Extract
• 3 tablespoons Milk

Directions

1. Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease bottom of 9 inch pie pan. Line bottom with waxed paper and grease again. In large bowl, blend on low speed, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, milk, butter, vanilla and egg.
2. Blend until moistened. Beat 2 minutes on medium speed. Pour into pie pan.
3. Bake 20-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
4. Cool 5 minutes. Invert on wire rack. Remove waxed paper. Cool completely.
5. Split horizontally, making 2 thin layers. Filling: in medium saucepan, mix together sugar, flour and salt. Gradually stir in milk. Boil 1 minute. Stir constantly. Blend 1/4 cup hot mixture into egg and egg mixture back into saucepan. Cook until mixture is bubbly. Stir constantly. Remove from heat.
6. Stir in butter and vanilla. Cool. Stir often. Spread half of filling on cut side of larger cake layer. Arrange banana slices on filling. Spread remaining filling on top. Top with cake layer, cut side down. Glaze: in small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate and 2 tablespoons butter.
7. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar, dash of salt, almond extract and enough milk to make spreading consistency. Mix until smooth. Spread on top of cake, letting glaze drip down sides of cake. Refrigerate until serving time. Store in refrigerator.

German Sweet Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 German chocolate cake mix
• 1/3 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons sugar -- optional
• 1 package cream cheese
• 3 1/2 cups Cool Whip -- 8-oz container
• 8" Graham Cracker Crust

Directions

1. Thaw Cool Whip. Heat 1 pkg. (4 oz.) Baker’s German Sweet Chocolate and 2 T milk in saucepan over low heat, stirring until chocolate is melted. Beat sugar into cream cheese; add remaining milk and chocolate mixture and beat until smooth.
2. Fold chocolate mixture into whipped topping, blending until smooth. Spoon into baked 8″ Graham Cracker Crust. Freeze until firm, about 4 hours. Garnish with chocolate curls, if desired. Store any leftover pie in freezer.

Chocolate Caramel Apples Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 ripe apples
• 4 wooden skewers
• 14 ounces (1 bag) soft caramel candy
• 2 tbsp water
• 10 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp shortening
• 2 cups chopped candy bars, chocolate, or nuts

Directions

1. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Wash and dry the apples carefully. Remove the stems, and stick the skewers firmly in the stem ends.
3. Place the unwrapped caramels and the water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute, then stir, then microwave for and additional minute or until completely melted. The caramel should be smooth and liquid by the end.
4. Hold an apple by the skewer and dip it in the caramel, tilting the bowl at an angle and rotating the apple to cover it completely with a smooth, even layer. Bring it out of the caramel and twirl it upside down to remove excess, then set it on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining apples.
5. Place the caramel-covered apples in the refrigerator to set for at least 30 minutes.
6. Combine the chocolate and the shortening in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave until melted, stirring every 45 seconds.
7. Dip the caramel-covered apple in the chocolate. If necessary, spoon some chocolate over the top to ensure the apple is completely covered with chocolate. While the chocolate is still wet, dip the bottom half in the chopped candy bars and roll until the bottom half is covered. Place back on the baking sheet and repeat with remaining apples.
8. Chill apples in refrigerator until completely set, about 45 minutes. Always store apples in the refrigerator.

 

Reeses Squares Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1 lb confectioners' sugar ( 3 to 3 1/2 cups)
• 1 1/2 cups peanut butter
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 1 (12 ounce) bags milk chocolate chips

Directions

1. Combine graham crumbs, sugar and peanut butter and mix well.
2. Blend in melted butter until well combined.
3. Press mixture evenly into a 9 x 13 inch pan.
4. Melt chocolate chips in microwave or in double boiler.
5. Spread over peanut butter mixture.
6. Chill until just set and cut into bars