National Chocolate Mousse Day

National Chocolate Mousse Day is celebrated in North America on April 3rd. Chocolate mousse is a French dessert that contains dark chocolate, eggs and sugar, made with whipped cream. It retains its shape thanks to gelatin and refrigeration. Real chocolate mousse should have a light texture and be softer than custard.

History

It is hard enough to trace the history, however, something was documented. French chefs have been making chocolate cream since the beginning of the 17th century, when it was brought from Spain. Mousse was invented in France in 1894. Initially, it was a savory dish, was served with fish or vegetables. However, the idea of ​​making chocolate mousse was not long in coming. The French artist Toulouse-Lautrec is considered the first person to mix chocolate and mousse at the beginning of the 20th century. He originally called it ‘mayonnaise de chocolat’, (chocolate mayonnaise), but the name was later changed.

One of the first written references to mousse in the United States dates back to 1897. It was found in one of the issues of the Boston Globe daily newspaper. The recipe for this pudding-like dessert was published in the Housewives Column. Today, chocolate mousse is served on its own, as well as with chopped chocolate or fruit.

Fun Facts

• Nicole Cody, pastry chef at Finale in Boston, says custard and pudding are heavier than mousse. “The mousse contains whipped cream or egg whites, and they give it such a delicate texture. As a result, we get the feeling that we are eating something very light. It can be served separately, or one can serve it with fruit or a cake.”
• There are hundreds of variations of the original recipe: with alcohol, peppermint, orange, and even marshmallow.
• The word ‘mousse’ means foam in French, so Mousse au Chocolat literally means chocolate foam.

When is National Chocolate Mousse Day celebrated in 2024?

National Chocolate Mousse Day is observed on April 3 each year.

Observations