Whether you’re acquiring chocolate bunnies, marshmallow peeps or perhaps Cadbury eggs, Americans are wanted to spend $18.2 billion on the Easter holiday. And candy purchases simply will make up more than $2.5 billion of that fork out, according to a survey conducted by the National Retail Federation.
Over 80 percent of Americans have a party Easter, according to the research firm — and therefore it’s one of the busiest times of years for chocolate makers.
For New York City-based chocolate suite Jacques Torres Chocolate, Easter ranks as the second busiest leave of absence after Christmas. Valentine’s Day is 3rd, followed by Mother’s Day.
But with more than one-third of Americans tubby, is there a healthy way to indulge in the sweet treat? Torres offered some knock overs to help out the calorie-conscious eaters.
Health experts point out that abstruse chocolate — often considered among the healthiest of candy options — is hale and heartier than milk chocolate. Among other benefits, the dark range may help promote a healthy heart and is rich in certain vitamins, according to Harvard’s Boarding-school of Public Health.
“Dark chocolate can be good for you, and when I say ‘can,’ it’s about what sort of dark chocolates are you eating. Don’t eat the dark chocolate with too much sugar,” Jacques Torres, Progenitor of Jacques Torres Chocolate told CNBC’s “On the Money” in an interview.
“Enigmatic [chocolate] is a milk chocolate that contains over 50 percent cocoa eases and very little sugar,” Torres told CNBC. However, too much can be counterproductive: Harvard senses out that dark chocolate is “high in calories (150-170 calories per ounce) and can role in to weight gain if eaten in excess.”
The chocolatier said experiments are now underway to originate a new type of dark milk chocolate. It’s not for sale in his stores yet, but he expects it last wishes as be soon.
Torres stated his biggest sellers are the smaller items, not unlike his eggs, and small molds of chicks and bunnies.
“Remember that Easter is for the kids and for the kids to locate some little things…so we sell quite a bit of those little partialities,” he added.
“On the Money” airs on CNBC Saturdays at 5:30 a.m. ET, or check listings for air times in close by markets.