National Milk Chocolate Day is a holiday that celebrates one of the most loved candies in all the world: milk chocolate. This is a holiday that falls interestingly enough on July 28th every year—considering that this day is in the middle of summer and milk chocolate is especially vulnerable to melting. However, that shouldn’t keep anyone from celebrating this day and having a good time. 

The History Of National Milk Chocolate Day

National Milk Chocolate Day is a holiday that was invented prior to 2019 by the National Confectioner’s Association to encourage people to buy milk chocolate. Although this holiday begins with the word “national” it’s not an official holiday, which means that businesses, government buildings, and banks will remain open on this day. Even so, it’s still a day that chocolate lovers are probably going to want to celebrate in some way. 

The History of Milk Chocolate

As we’ve discussed in other holiday articles, chocolate is a good that’s been enjoyed by human beings for thousands of years. Mesoamerican people made an assortment of chocolate beverages by grinding cacao seeds and mixing them with water and various ingredients. Cacao beans were taken back to Europe where a variety of different beverages were made from them.

In 1815, a Dutch chemist named Coenraad van Houten introduced alkaline compounds into chocolate, and this greatly reduced its natural bitterness. Thirteen years later, in 1828, he would invent a press that was capable of removing half the natural fat from the chocolate. This created what would become known as Dutch cocoa. Many historians believe the creation of Dutch cocoa to be the beginning of the age of modern chocolate. 

In 1875, Daniel Peter, a Swiss chocolatier, invented milk chocolate when he mixed powdered milk that was developed by Henri Nestle with chocolate liquor. Over the rest of the 19th and 20th centuries, milk chocolate would continue to be refined until it became the delicious product that we all know and love today. 

Celebrating National Milk Chocolate Day

National Milk Chocolate Day can be enjoyed by taking the time to buy and use some of the fine milk chocolate that exists. A person can buy a milk chocolate bar and enjoy it in their spare time, or they can incorporate milk chocolate into their favorite recipe. They can also take some of the favorite milk chocolate bars, melt them, and then drizzle them on a bowl of ice cream. Wow, that sounds delicious. 

No matter how they enjoy this revered holiday, however, they should be sure to take the time and use the hashtag #NationalMilkChocolateDay to let the world know that they’re celebrating this holiday. This is a day that we all can appreciate and celebrate together. Just be sure not to mix it up with National Chocolate Milk Day, a holiday that celebrates chocolate milk and is celebrated on September 27th.