Does chocolate really have caffeine?Your cover story article on coffee indicated that chocolate has caffeine caffeine (kăfēn`), odorless, slightly bitter alkaloid found in coffee, tea, kola nuts (see cola), ilex plants (the source of the Latin American drink maté), and, in small amounts, in cocoa (see cacao). . Actually, I've I've Contraction of I have. I've I have I've have read articles stating that it may not. I also haven't been able to find any scientific studies proving that it does. Tony SlatonBarker via e-mail Brian C. Howard Responds: The prevailing wisdom is that chocolate contains caffeine in low amounts, but there is debate in the scientific literature, mainly centering around the difficulty in distinguishing between caffeine and theobromine the·o·bro·mine n. A bitter, colorless alkaloid found in chocolate products and used as a diuretic, vasodilator, and myocardial stimulant. theobromine an alkaloid prepared from dried ripe seed of the tropical American tree , a closely related compound. A chemical analysis of chocolate published in The Biochemist in April/May 1993 turned up theobromine but no caffeine. Complicating com·pli·cate tr. & intr.v. com·pli·cat·ed, com·pli·cat·ing, com·pli·cates 1. To make or become complex or perplexing. 2. To twist or become twisted together. adj. 1. the issue is the fact that the effects of both chemicals on the human body are still poorly understood. 
<br>Chocolate does contain caffeine. There is one particular website that seems to be sowing the seeds of doubt over this issue and is widely cited throughout the 'net. However, this is simply one site despite how many times it has been cited.<br><br>To see what a real chocolate maker / company says about the issue see:<br><br>http://www.amanochocolate.com/articles/caffeineinchocolate.html<br><br>where the amount of caffeine that is in various kinds of typical chocolate is examined and the caffeine content of common foods is compared. |
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