Not all chocolate has bragging rights in regards to health, but dark chocolate gets a gold star. It’ll never replace kale or bananas when it comes to nutrition, but it does desserts proud. It contains fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, phosphorous, zinc, selenium, and potassium. It’s also loaded with antioxidants, which benefit the body in numerous ways. Still, this doesn’t mean you should eat York Mints for breakfast (they’re a substitute for toothpaste, right?): in order to reap the optimal benefits, chocolate needs to contain at least 70-85 percent cocoa.

Chocolate and Cannabis

Chocolate has been paired with cannabis since cavemen and cavewoman invented fire and then used that fire to bake pot brownies (or, possibly, something a bit more historically accurate).The point is, it’s always been a winning combination and many dispensaries have long sold different varieties. According to High Times, some of these varieties include: FlavRx: This bar comes in a few different options – white chocolate lemon and English toffee for starters. The bars contain 18 segments with 10 milligrams of THC in each segment. The bars are good for people who want the balance CBD offers – the ratio of THC to CBD is 1:1. Obsession Chocolates!: These chocolates are made with CO2 oil and come with 180 milligrams per box. They offer several different flavors – Meyer lemon, salted butter, peanut butter, and Aztec chili. Cannabis 4 Cause: If you want to use your sweet tooth to be sweet, Cannabis 4 Cause is a great program. For every chocolate bar they sell, they fund 10 milligrams of cannabis oil for cancer patients in need. They also source Fair Trade Venezuelan cacao and offer flavors of raspberry, sea salt, and mint. They segregate their bars by sativa, indica, and hybrid too. Satori Chocolates: Satori provides chocolate in various THC dosage levels, which makes them ideal for someone inexperienced in using edibles (you can divide the product into two or three milligrams). They offer both dark and milk chocolate bars as well as chocolate-dipped strawberries, cacao beans, coffee beans, and almonds. Defonce Chocolatier: The co-founders of this company include a former producer at Apple and an organic cannabis farmer. They create their bars using biodynamic, sun-grown cannabis from one farm. Each bar contains 180 milligrams divided into segments of ten milligrams each.

A Warning on Chocolate Bar Consumption

Experienced users know that consuming cannabis edibles is different than smoking a joint or a bowl. For one thing, the high is usually longer-lasting and more powerful when ingested through food. But it also takes a lot longer to arrive.

While a high from smoking arrives immediately or within a few minutes, edibles differ: sometimes it takes up to two hours to feel the effects

This is important to note so you don’t ingest more before the first round kicks in; doing this can result in a much higher high than you desire (you won’t die from your drug levels, but you might feel like you are). The best thing to do is go slow and start low: begin with 10 milligrams, give it time, and go from there. Chocolate cannabis bars aren’t designed to be eaten in the same manner as a Baby Ruth or Butter Finger: a square goes a long way. If you insist on avoiding edibles at all cost, you may want to look for strains known for their cocoa aromas, such as Bubba Kush or Gorilla Glue #4 for its chocolate and coffee aromatic blend. Although you won't be actually consuming chocolate, it might be the next best thing for chocolate and cannabis lovers.

Chocolate, Cannabis, and Romance

Whether or not chocolate is an aphrodisiac has long been debated. Some people swear it is while others claim any related sexual arousal is a myth. Per the New York Times, two chemicals in chocolate – tryptophan (which makes serotonin) and phenylethylamine (a stimulant related to amphetamine) do possess aphrodisiac qualities. But many scientists have argued the amount released is too minimal to have an impact: ergo, run back to oysters. Science appears to back this up. One study published in the journal Sexual Medicine looked at the sexual effects of chocolate in the way they related only to women (who are believed to be more sensitive to chocolate than men). The research involved 163 adult women who consumed several servings of chocolate a day, one serving, or none.

They found no significant differences in regards to sexual arousal

The researchers concluded that there could be a placebo effect, however: people believe chocolate is an aphrodisiac so they feel more aroused when they consume it. It’s a psychological effect, but an effect, nonetheless. Cannabis, on the other hand, possesses aphrodisiac properties, at least when it comes to anecdotal evidence. But certain scientific studies back this notion up too. According to Herb magazine, a study at the University of Catania, Charles University, and Masaryk University in the Czech Republic reviewed data regarding cannabis and sexual function. Of those who consumed marijuana, 70 percent experienced some form of enhanced pleasure and satisfaction. A study conducted in the stone age of 1983, and published in the Journal of Sex Research, found something similar: the majority of participants in their study reported better sexual pleasure and satisfaction. It’s important to mention, though, that the participants were predominantly college students, people who might find aphrodisiac qualities in water.

Still, the idea that cannabis and sex go together is gaining momentum and both men and women have begun to use it for a variety of sexual dysfunctions

Women appear to be more prone to its pleasurable effects with high highs leaving them highly satisfied. Men aren’t as prone and often suffer from the “too much of a good thing” phenomenon. Ideally, they should stick to strains with moderate THC levels and aim to get buzzed rather than stoned.