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."