Sweet and sensuous chocolate soothes weary soul

Sweet and sensuous chocolate soothes weary soul

Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Chocolate is always associated with good things and special
occasions, while for chocolate lovers, its delicate taste never
fails to revive pleasant memories.

Now, chocolate is not just a delicate treat for the palate but
also part of a new body treatment. Chocolate is believed good for
the skin, body and mind.

"Its contents nourish the skin while its butter is a good skin
moisturizer," said Dharmawangsa's spa manager Hernawati, adding
chocolate contained vitamins B and B2 as well as other minerals
like potassium, magnesium, calcium and iron. The hotel claimed to
be the first to introduce this delicacy for its latest full-range
body treatment dubbed The Chocolate Ritual.

She said the aphrodisiac was a source of antioxidants and
contained other feel-good properties. For instance, its
theobromine substance was a stimulant that acted as an emotional
and energy booster, similar to caffeine.

Chocolate, she added, also contained phenylethylamine, a mood
elevating chemical that is also released in the brain when one is
in love, and anandamide, a substance that induces a feeling of
euphoria and is naturally produced in the brain. "The later word
was taken from a Sanskrit word that means peaceful bliss," she
added.

For the treatment, six specially formulated organic chocolate-
based body range products are used, namely the white chocolate
body butter, chocolate and cinnamon scrub, dark chocolate body
mousse, chocolate and champagne whirlpool bath, body lotion and
minty cocoa butter lip balm.

The chocolate treatment is preceded by a 15-minute jet
affusion or scotch shower.

"The aim is to prepare the body and help unclog pores so that
the chocolate products can penetrate the skin," Hernawati said.

After the shower, a masseuse generously applies the white
chocolate butter massage over the body and performs a 50-minute
massage to relax tense muscles, while the chocolate aroma helps
soothe the stressed mind.

"The butter was a mixture of organic cocoa butter, almond,
jojoba oils and plant extracts with pure essential oils. It
moisturizes the skin with rich natural oils," Hernawati
explained.

The ritual is then followed with a 30-minute gentle skin
exfoliation, using chocolate and cinnamon body scrub -- a blend
of pure cocoa powder, ground cinnamon, mandarin peel, star anise
and nutmeg -- to remove dry and dead skin cells and reveal softer
and glowing new skin.

Later on, the masseuse covers the client's body with a dark
chocolate body mousse, consisting of mineral-rich French clay,
dark chocolate, shea butter and aloe vera gel.

This 25-minute treatment, Hernawati said, absorbs toxins and
impurities while providing the skin with vitamins and skin cell-
building nutrients.

With the body still wrapped with chocolate, the client is then
asked to take a nice 15-minute dip in whirlpool bath to cleanse
the skin.

"After the bath, the client doesn't need to take a shower as
the chocolate bath won't leave an oily or sticky sensation on the
body. This will also ensure the chocolate aroma will linger
longer," she explained.

In the next step, the client's body is moisturized using a
body silk application to protect the skin from damaging factors
and organic chocolate lip balm with a refreshing peppermint
extract.

"The treatment can also be made a part of anti-stress and
detoxification program."