Chocolate Stories: Space Chocolate

When astronauts leave Earth, they bring only the essentials: oxygen, water, communication systems… and chocolate.

Yes, chocolate has travelled to space, and not just once. Since the days of the Apollo missions, it’s been carefully tucked into supply packs and floated through zero gravity aboard shuttles and the International Space Station.

But why would NASA include something as simple as chocolate on such groundbreaking missions?

More Than Just Fuel

When you’re millions of kilometres from home, suspended in silence, a small square of chocolate can feel like a spark of joy.

In space, where everything is technical, isolated, and sterile, chocolate brings warmth. It’s a reminder of Earth, of comfort, of the familiar.

The Science of Feeling Good

Studies have shown that chocolate triggers the release of endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin, our brain’s natural feel-good chemicals.

For astronauts, these benefits aren’t just nice to have. They’re essential for emotional wellbeing in an environment where stress, fatigue, and homesickness can take a toll.

Chocolate as Humanity’s Anchor

Astronauts aren’t just eating it for the taste. They’re eating it to feel human.
To smile.
To stay grounded when there is no ground.

Back Here on Earth

So if chocolate can lift the spirits of someone orbiting the Earth, just imagine what it’s doing for you.

Maybe it’s a sweet pause in the middle of a busy day. Maybe it’s a gift that says what words can’t. Or maybe it’s that small indulgence that makes life feel just a little more magical.

At Poppy’s Chocolate, we love knowing that something so simple has the power to connect, comfort, and delight, whether you’re in your office, your living room, or even beyond the stars.