It’s Chocolate Day – Celebrate with a chocolate frog!

Our friends at Hogsmeade Station Gift Shop sent us a little reminder that today, July 7, is Chocolate Day. Let’s take a look back at this sweet treat in relation to the wizarding world and also a small trip down memory lane with some favorite chocolate frog incarnations!

In the Harry Potter series, chocolate is not just another sugary substance that makes people smile – it’s the go-to for witches and wizards who suffer from the effects of being near a Dementor. Particularly in the third book and film, we see Professor Lupin continue to push the confection on Harry both on the train and at school as Harry learns to defend himself against the especially horrifying effects the Demontors have on him.

This isn’t something that J.K. Rowling just made up – science has proven that chocolate has around 380 compounds that it releases into the body when consumed. As the body takes in these compounds, the brain reacts. Just some of the effects of ingesting chocolate are relaxing you, increasing the blood flow throughout your body, and stimulating your brain to produce dopamine, which is associated with pleasure and motivation. Sounds like chocolate might cure more than the effects of a Dementor!

Now that we know what chocolate can do for us, let’s take a look at the various forms of chocolate frogs that can be found across the world. Many thanks to Hogsmeade Station Gift Shop for sharing these with us!

Do you have a favorite chocolate frog? Share your pics with us on Facebook or Twitter or link to them in the comments below!