Anandamide (arachidonoylethanolamide) is a derivative of the polyunsaturated fatty acid, aracidonic acid. Since anandamide can be produced by the body it does not count as a vitamin or essential fatty acid. It is particularly common in the central nervous system and is found, if only in small quantities, in chocolate.

The receptors to which anandamide can attach itself are usually found in the regions of the brain that are responsible for perception and thought processing as well as for physical movement. These are the same receptors that are stimulated by the primary psychoactive substance, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), that is found in marijuana, and which causes its intoxication-like effect.

However, because there is only 0.5 to 90 µg of anandamide and two other chemical relatives to be found in one gram of chocolate, its concentration is much too small to cause a marijuana-like effect. Nevertheless, it cannot be discounted that anandamide is responsible for at least some of the noticeable sense of pleasure that occurs during the consumption of chocolate.