What is so special about Belgian chocolate? (2024)

However, it was only much later that the first chocolate bar appeared. A major milestone in the history of chocolate. "In 1674, the London shop Coffee Mill & Tabasco Roll took the first steps in that direction, presenting the first Spanish style "chocolate sausage”. In 1830, the Swiss Charles-Amédée Kohler mixed hazelnut with chocolate for the first time, still produced in the form of a drink. Seventeen years later, the first chocolate bar saw the light of day in England. A second milestone was achieved in 1875 with the creation of milk chocolate. Henri Nestlé had just invented condensed milk, which enabled Daniel Peter, a Swiss national like Kohler, to develop the recipe for milk chocolate" (Choco-Story, History of chocolate).

Also, Belgium was intrigued by the innovation of chocolate. So it became the first country to invent machines that could grind the cocoa beans extremely thin so that the chocolate was extremely smooth. Another example of a Belgian innovation was the process created by Jean Neuhaus in 1912 when he developed a way to make a cold shell of chocolate that he called ‘pralines’". These were different because they offered a mechanism whereby for the first time the chocolate could be filled with a variety of flavoured nougats or creams, such as coffee, hazelnut, fruit or even more chocolate. Ever since, there has been a strong expertise on how to make chocolate in Belgium that has been passed down and fine-tuned from generation to generation.

What is so special about Belgian chocolate? (2024)

FAQs

What is so special about Belgian chocolate? ›

Belgian

Belgian
Ingredients typical in Belgian dishes include potatoes, leeks, grey shrimp, white asparagus, Belgian endive and local beer, in addition to common European staples including meat, cheese and butter. Belgians typically eat four meals a day, with a light breakfast, medium lunch, a snack, and a large dinner.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Belgian_cuisine
chocolate is ground so fine that it has a structure of just 15 to 18 microns. High cocoa content. Belgian chocolate has a higher cocoa content than most international products. Pure cocoa butter.

Why is Belgian chocolate so famous? ›

The beans used for Belgian chocolate are of superior quality, among other things because their origin and harvest are carefully selected. Moreover, the cocoa beans are ground very finely, so that Belgian chocolate has a very fine structure (from 15 to 18 microns).

Is Belgian chocolate the best in the world? ›

We examine the unique and delicious reasons Belgian chocolate is the best in the world, from its serendipitous history to its one-of-a-kind recipe.

What's the difference between Belgian chocolate and normal chocolate? ›

Because Belgian chocolate uses a high quantity of cocoa beans in their chocolate production process, they add less refined sugar to their chocolate offerings. Meanwhile, competing countries tend to use more sugar and lower quantities of cocoa beans, resulting in some taste differences.

What is the difference between Swiss chocolate and Belgian chocolate? ›

Belgian chocolate will typically have a higher cocoa content. So we've learned that Swiss chocolate tends to be creamier and smoother on the palette.

Why is Belgian chocolate so expensive? ›

The gaping shortage of beans has percolated its way through to Europe's premier confectionery hub, putting chocolate makers under unprecedented cost pressure and forcing up prices just as seasonal demand peaks going into the Easter holiday.

What is the best chocolate in the world? ›

Top 10 Chocolate Brands From Around the World (2022-2023)
  • McGuire Chocolate (Canada) - Average Score 87.7.
  • BOHO Chocolate (United States) - Average Score 87.0.
  • SLOK Chocolate (Hong Kong) - Average Score 86.9.
  • Beau Cacao (France) - Average Score 85.6.
  • Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Average Score 85.0.
Feb 2, 2024

What is the most famous Belgian chocolate brand? ›

Godiva. The Godiva Chocolatier story is the story of a craftsman chocolate maker, whose name has become a symbol of luxury and prestige the world over. It all started in Brussels in 1926, when Pierre Draps senior created his first praliné chocolates in the small workshop of his Brussels home.

Which is the most expensive chocolate in the world? ›

The To'ak Chocolate, which is pronounced as Toe-Ahk, is reportedly the most expensive chocolate in the world. The chocolate costs Rs 32,000 per bar. Yes, let that sink in. So if the one you are gifting is worth enough, be ready to spend a hefty amount on these mouthwatering delights.

What is the oldest chocolate brand in Belgium? ›

Meurisse — Belgium First Chocolate Co - Est. 1845. Building on our ancestor's artistry, we are dedicated to once again craft the most remarkable chocolate.

What is the secret of Belgian chocolate? ›

The secret of Belgian chocolate lies in what goes into it, and the know-how of the Master Chocolatiers. Chocolate 'made in Belgium' is characterised by a higher chocolate content than in other countries. The minimum level is 43%. Plus, the chocolate has to be 100% pure cocoa butter, with no added vegetable fats.

Is Lindt Belgian chocolate? ›

Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG, doing business as Lindt, is a Swiss chocolatier and confectionery company founded in 1845 and known for its chocolate truffles and chocolate bars, among other sweets.

What is the benefit of Belgian chocolate? ›

It is a source of powerful source of antioxidants

Belgian dark chocolate is a powerful source of antioxidants because it is loaded with biologically active organic compounds that function as antioxidants, some of which include flavanols, catechins, and polyphenols.

Why is Belgian chocolate so delicious? ›

Belgian chocolate has a higher cocoa content than most international products. Pure cocoa butter. Belgian chocolate contains 100% cocoa butter. The selection of the beans.

Is Belgian chocolate worth it? ›

Belgian chocolate is widely renowned as the best chocolate in the world, a statement usually confirmed by anyone's taste as soon as the rich and velvety chocolate hits their lips.

What is an interesting fact about Belgium chocolate? ›

Fun Chocolate Facts about Belgium

Belgium is home to more chocolate factories than any other country on earth, it's known as the 'chocolate capital of the world'. Belgium got its famous reputation when King Leopold II started harvesting cocoa crops in the late 19th century in the Congo.

Why are Belgians so good at making chocolate? ›

Having access to cocoa beans allowed the country to get a head start in understanding how to process and produce chocolate as we know it today. Soon Belgian chocolatiers were developing machines designed to mix the beans and create a smooth, thin texture.

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