As the Valentine's Day is coming, industry gears up to spew out roses, cards and confectionery. Chocoholism reached almost epidemic proportions in 2002 as the world chomped its way through chocolate bars, sweets and pralines worth a staggering .2 billion. Research from business information group Datamonitor put the Irish and British at the top of the chocolate-munchers league. While Europe as a whole spent .2 billion on chocolate last year, Britons made almost one in three chocolate purchases, while in Belgium, considered by many to be the home of the chocolate-maker's art, Belgian put away only 8.4 kilos per head. But tastes vary widely. The French prefer simplicity and purity of taste, without additional flavors and with little sugar, while Italian tastes are geared toward the more indulgent and sophisticated end of the market. The Japanese prefer milk chocolate, the Thais go for white chocolate and in Hong Kong and Singapore, dark varieties come out as favorites. (Agencies) | 随着情人节的到来，商家挟着铺天盖地的鲜花、情人卡片和糖果来势汹汹。而在2002年，巧克力大行其道，销量惊人，全世界共吃掉了价值422亿美元的巧克力条、各色糖果及脆皮果仁。 根据著名市场研究分析公司Datamonitor所作的调查，爱尔兰人和英国人吃的巧克力最多。 2002年整个欧洲的巧克力销售额是192亿美元，英国几乎占了其中的三分之一。而在以制作巧克力工艺著称的比利时，人均消费巧克力却只有8.4千克。 每个地方对于巧克力口味的偏好各不相同。 法国人喜欢口味纯正、少糖的巧克力，不喜欢添加了其他口味的花色巧克力，而意大利人则喜欢纵情享受各种各样的巧克力，将其繁复精妙发挥到极致。 日本人喜爱牛奶巧克力，泰国人对白巧克力情有独钟，而在香港和新加坡，各式黑巧克力则更受欢迎。 Put away: 吃掉 （中国日报网站译） |
Updated: 2003-02-14 01:00
