Pocket Change - Shopping Blog

Sometimes nothing but a mouthful of chocolate will do to take the edge off of disasters or disappointments or satisfy sugar withdrawal DTs. Apparently, I’m not alone in needing emergency chocolate.  The Spoonsisters sell an emergency 3.5 ounce bar for $5 that is designed “For immediate relief of chocolate cravings, exam pressure, mild anxiety, love sickness or extreme hunger. Simply tear open the wrapper, break off desired dosage and consume. Repeat dosage as necessary until finished…”

There’s also the Emergency Chocolate Kit that includes recipes, advice for the lovelorn and, most importantly, a pouch in which to hide your chocolate fix.

To me, the critical feature of emergency chocolate is that it’s here when you need it. I keep some in a tin in my car trunk (not so great once summer hits) where it’s accessible but not so close at hand that it disappears while driving. For the office, I keep a tin in back of my desk files.  One of my favorite emergency chocolates is called The Chocolate Traveler which is available in many specialty foods stores like Trader Joe’s. Of course, you could actually carry it along for traveling-related emergencies like when your car breaks down on a deserted road or when you’ve arrived late in a foreign city and everything is closed.  I’m sure the denizens of Lost would have survived their travails better if there had been a serious chocolate stash onboard.

For more substantial emergency chocolate supplies, consider the Ghirardelli Chocolate Tin that contains 30 individually foil wrapped chocolate squares inside a red tin box that’s good for both personal use and gifts.

To qualify as emergency chocolate, the chocolate must be storable. For example, a box of See’s Candy doesn’t count since once the box is open, it’s a moral obligation to finish the box quickly. Emergency chocolate needs a good shelf life, a protective container and a location where others can’t find and/or raid it. With rampant chocoholism in my house, that means hiding chocolate at the back of the coat closet and other unlikely spots that even I sometimes forget, providing a happy surprise when unexpectedly discovered.

Any other emergency chocolate keepers out there?

Mimi Sells
PR Flack