Even thousands of years after its discovery by the Aztec and Mayan tribes, chocolate remains one of the surest ways to satisfy a sweet tooth. Yet here are a few facts you might not know about this delectable confection:

? The average American consumes approximately 11.7 pounds of chocolate each year.

? According to recent health studies, dark chocolate is a potent anti-oxidant. Anti-oxidants gobble up free radicals, destructive molecules that are implicated in heart disease and other ailments.

? A leading chocolatier is celebrating a milestone anniversary with the rebirth of an iconic collection, ushering in the next generation of Belgian-style chocolate making.

"To honor our 80 years of chocolate heritage, we've taken a bold leap into the future," says Gene Dunkin, president, Godiva North America. "The new collection offers luscious new chocolates alongside revamped classics."

The Gold Collection presents a new palette of signature chocolates with a tantalizing range of taste and texture that is the result of the current trends in chocolate. Scrumptious new pralines are made with hazelnuts and almonds. The rich flavor of deep ganache is now available in three dark chocolate intensities. The favorite creamy caramel continues to delight-now bursting with flavor accents of fruits and nuts.

"We are proud to offer new taste and form with bold praline textures, fast-melting ganaches and more creamy caramels," says Thierry Muret, Godiva Senior Chef Chocolatier. "The final product is an extraordinary chocolate experience."

The Gold Collection is available in a variety of sizes, ranging from a two-piece to a 140-piece box. The collection can be purchased at Godiva boutiques, specialty stores and finer department stores nationwide.