Let's blame China for rising chocolate prices

Hopefully, you restrained from eating all the Reese's Eggs you scored on 4/20, because if reports are to be believed, it looks like chocolate -- as a result of soaring, near-record prices -- is about to become a luxury item. For serious.

In troubling times like these, it's important to have someone to blame, and in this case it looks like China is our patsy. The demand for cocoa is due to emerging markets' fixation on the stuff, and China has been especially greedy: consumption over there has tripled in just four years. Soon, experts say that chocolate could take on the same luxury status as champagne, which would validate our date night pairing of Goobers and Dom, but nonetheless ruin Halloween for everyone outside of Beverly Hills.

Kristin Hunt is a food/drink staff writer for Thrillist, and is prepared to take up street fighting if peanut butter cups become a black market commodity. Follow her training at @kristin_hunt.