Stop everything. Chocolate that reduces wrinkles has been invented.

Image via iStock

Food news does not get better than this. Face news does not get better than this.

Scientists have developed a chocolate bar that’s not only designed to be eaten daily – let’s just take a moment to let that sink in – but, in doing so, can improve the structure of your skin to resemble that of someone 20 years younger.

Yes, we’re a bit skeptical too, but here’s what the manufacturers reckon.

Q1. Who is the real-life Willy Wonka behind this miracle? Are they legit? And, um, are they anything like Johnny Depp?

A. The chocolate is produced by a British biotech company called Lycotec, whose director – Dr Ivan Petyaev – is a medical doctor and former researcher at Cambridge University. So, yes, he knows his science. And, yes, he’s like Johnny Depp in that he knows exactly how to appeal to women.

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Q2. Does it have such a catchy name that I won’t have to type it into my iPhone Notes to remember it?

A. Nope. Its official name is Esthechoc. Which sounds a bit like that unusual European dude you slept with when you went Interrailing years ago. But, like when Prince had his symbol phase, it has a less confusing alternative too: Beauty Chocolate.

Q3. Got it. Now, how the heck does it work?

A. It has insanely high levels of antioxidants. A 7.5g bar of Beauty Chocolate – that’s very roughly the weight of one Tim-Tam – contains the same amount of an antioxidant called astaxanthin as 300g of wild salmon. (Weirdly, it’s the same antioxidant that keeps goldfish gold and flamingos pink). It also has equal levels of free radical-fighting cocoa polyphenols as 100g of standard dark chocolate.

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Q4. Stop your sciency skin-speak! What do these actually do for me?

A. They increase blood circulation to skin tissue, helping to prevent lines. In clinical trials, when people in their 50s and 60s ate the chocolate daily for four weeks, scientists found that the physiology of their skin had improved to that of a 20 or 30-year-old. Although… wait. Does it prevent lines or reduce lines? Because preventing seems slightly more believable than reducing. And what if those women kept eating? Would their skin become foetus-smooth?

Q5. But have any other trials been done outside of the company?

A. Not yet, and that’s what the wider scientific community (and us) would like to see done to back up the claims. The consensus is that it’s early days for this product, but there is “a potentially sound scientific base”, according to British nutritionist Dr George Grimble.

Q6. Tell me straight: I know it’s chocolate, but is it really fattening?

A. It’s not too bad. It’s based on 70 percent cocoa dark chocolate, and only has 38 calories a bar (so it’s safe for diabetics).

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Q7. Right, when can I stock up my cupboards and start looking 19 again?

A. The product isn’t officially released until next month’s Global Food Innovation Summit – and its makers are keeping schtum about the price until then. It will be available online, but we don’t expect it to be cheap. Hey, it’s chocolate – there had to be some drawback.

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