Caffeine and theobromine. There is a persistent urban legend
that Chocolate contains caffeine. It would seem that this rumor is based
primarily on confusion between two similar alkaloids: caffeine and Theobromine.
Theobromine is the active ingredient in Chocolate and it occurs only in Cacao. The two stimulants are
related and have similar structures, but are very different chemicals with
different properties, effects and origins. There are of course, some Chocolate products
that have added caffeine, but it does not occur naturally in Chocolate.
