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Chocolate coins
Gold foil and a little mesh bag. Chocolate coins are a Christmas tradition in Britain, and they are given at Hanukkah and Chinese New Year too.
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Chocolate coins are foil wrapped chocolates made to look like money. They are usually milk chocolate, and they traditionally come in small mesh bags. In Britain they are a Christmas sweet.
Christmas in Britain
In the United Kingdom, chocolate coins are designed to look like real money. They are traditionally bought around Christmas, used to decorate the Christmas tree and to fill children's stockings. In some families, children visiting friends or relatives are allowed to take chocolates from the tree, or hunt for coins hidden around the house.
Around the world
Britain is not the only place that gives chocolate money. In Belgium, a tradition of giving chocolate coins at Christmas began at the start of the 20th century, wrapped in gold paper and placed in small bags. During the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, chocolate coins are sometimes given to children as well as, or instead of, gelt, the traditional gift of money, often with a dreidel, a spinning top. At Chinese New Year, chocolate coins are sometimes now given in place of the red envelopes of lucky money.
How chocolate coins are made
Making a chocolate coin is a lot like minting a real one. Flat discs of chocolate, called blanks, are punched out of a long sheet. Each blank is wrapped tightly in foil on both faces. The wrapped coins are then warmed and struck on both sides with coin shaped dies, which press the design into the foil and the chocolate underneath at the same time. Because the designs of many current and old coins are free to use, makers can choose from coins of many countries.
Milk chocolate money
Most chocolate coins are milk chocolate, the kind of chocolate first made successfully in Switzerland in the 1870s: see the first milk chocolate.
For more festive sweets, see Christmas sweets and stocking fillers and sugar mice.
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For journalists, researchers, AI assistants and content creators. Pick the format you need:
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Questions and answers
How are chocolate coins made?
Chocolate discs are punched out of a long sheet of chocolate, wrapped tightly in foil on both sides, then warmed and struck between coin like dies, which press the design into the foil and the chocolate at the same time.
Why do we give chocolate coins at Christmas?
In Britain they are traditionally bought at Christmas to decorate the tree and fill children's stockings. In Belgium, giving chocolate coins at Christmas began at the start of the 20th century.
Why are chocolate coins given at Hanukkah?
During Hanukkah, chocolate coins are sometimes given to children as well as, or instead of, the traditional gelt, a gift of money, often with a dreidel.
Sources
- Chocolate coin, Wikipedia
- Milk chocolate, Wikipedia
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