While true chocoholics consider their favorite treat to be a year-round staple, for others it’s very much a seasonal indulgence. Whether part of Christmas, New Year’s or Valentine’s Day celebrations, or simply a comforting hot drink by the fireside, the food and beverage space tends to see chocolate sales pick up sharply over the winter months. 

It turns out that there’s a good reason why people turn to chocolate in winter (other than a sweet tooth, obviously). Researchers at a German university found that foods rich in cocoa, such as dark chocolate, provide significant amounts of vitamin D2. Vitamin D2 promotes healthy bone growth and helps our bodies fight cancer, heart disease, and infections. Its main source is natural sunlight - which tends to be lacking during the winter, hence the impulse to stock up in the chocolate aisle.