Belgian Chocolates: A Touch of Perfection

A strict adherence to the tradition is what counts for the uniqueness of the Belgian chocolates. The Belgian chocolate industry is very conservative in terms of the selection of the ingredients as well as the technique of manufacturing. They are made in small shops using mostly the simple and hand driven tools. In fact these small cottage shops are one of the important tourist attractions of Belgium.

In Belgian culture, chocolates are an adored item of gift. In order to keep with this spirit, in 1912, a filled chocolate delicacy named “praline” was introduced by one Belgian confectioner, Jean Neuhaus. The pralines were nothing but a cold shell made up of a special type of chocolate called “couverteur”. These pralines were filled with a variety of items like creams, coffee, hazelnut, fruit or simply more chocolate. Thus was created the flavor which still remains unparallel. It used to be accompanied by a suitable packaging which was named “Ballotin”. Thus appeared the famous “ballotin de pralines” which in Belgian society is regarded as a wonderful gift for any occasion and an unprecedented gastronomic pleasure for the rest of the world. In modern Belgium, Leonidas, Neuhaus, Godiva and Nirvana are the premium chocolate praline producing companies.

As any other chocolate, in Belgium also, the chocolates are made by mixing the cocoa powder, cocoa butter, sugar and milk powder. Different kinds of chocolates are made by using the components in different proportion. The factory owners themselves choose the cocoa seeds and other ingredients of the filling. This adds to the wonderful color, texture and aroma quality for which these chocolates are famous. One technical advantage of Belgian chocolate is that the couverteur are supplied in heated trucks after the tempering process. This heat helps the mixture retain its aroma in its original form. In the final stage of production, they are decorated by hands. The pralines are also handmade by the artisans. It is this touch of human hands which makes these chocolates unique in the world.

Belgian Chocolates are one of the costliest varieties in the world. But one bite of this special variety will tell you the vast difference between it and any other brand in the whole world. This explains why the chocolates made in Belgium continue to be the most admired sweet in the whole world.

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