What is the Secret of Belgian Chocolate?
Visit Belgium and you will understand why chocolate is essential in the life of this tiny country: you will find a chocolatier in every village, in every main street, and in big cities such as Liege, Brussels or Bruges, there will be an infinite choice of chocolate makers displaying their beautiful pralines all around you!
So why is it so delicious? Well, the best ingredients are used and the traditional techniques still prevail. Most belgian chocolates are made by hand in small workshops, by people who love their job and are very proud of their specialties. They receive their chocolate paste still warm and liquid in heated tanker truck and not in solid cold paste like in other countries. This way, it keeps its original flavor longer.
Why is it different? Well, Belgian chocolate became internationally known thanks to the invention of “pralines” (not the same as the sweet treats found in the States). This technique was invented in 1912 by Jean Neuhaus, a swiss man who had moved to Brussels. Praline-making consists in moulding a cold chocolate shell that can then be filled with any flavored chocolate or other ingredients (nougat, creams..). Neuhaus were also the first to use “ballotins”, the chic box to carefully wrap pralines.
Our favorite Belgian chocolate?
Pralines
- Neuhaus - The original Boutique in Galleries de la Reine in Brussels.
- Leonidas - check here to order some from the States
- And many small chocolatier like Bouvier, in Anseremme near Dinant.
Chocolate bars
For tours of Belgium including chocolate tasting and praline-making demonstration, check www.frenchescapade.com (50% off on August trip to Belgium).
The video below is a praline-making demonstration from Planète Chocolat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WflQgQ7NV9g
My name is Jackie Grandchamps. In 2003, I founded French Escapade, offering another way to travel in small groups of 8. "Don't be a tourist, be our guest" is the moto and spirit of my company.
Check www.frenchescapade.com
Through this blog, I will provide information about France, Belgium, California, (soon Italy) but also some stories from my guests on the tours.
Learn more about the company in the French Escapade section of this blog.
October 9th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
thank you for your intersting article
i trully love bilgume choclolet and i do tried it befor
hope that i could open my own shop
and have some interstend idias on it
thank you
thubyanee
October 11th, 2009 at 5:41 am
Hope you can open your own shop too!!! Good luck!
March 16th, 2010 at 5:56 am
[...] information about France, Belgium, California, (soon Italy) but also some stories from my guests …Travel another way | What is the Secret of Belgian Chocolate?Mail (will not be published) (required) Website. Gor©e, Senegal: the Slave Island. Back to [...]
July 11th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Whatever secret it might have, it taste so powerful that people cant resist.
July 26th, 2010 at 3:34 am
A luxury chocolate, so rich and smooth, no others compare. Worth the price and the experience. Why would anyone have anything else?
July 28th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
In Antwerp you will also find famous belgian chocolate like Burie. Yes this is not cheap, but you get only the very best quality and the finest taste experience in this place.