Belgian Chocolate
Belgian chocolate has been the food of champions, a lure for lovers, the indulgence of the rich and later, the favourite of the masses. Belgium produces 172,000 tons of Belgian chocolate per year with more than 2,000 Belgian chocolate shops throughout the country.
Chocolate pralines in Belgium are sublime chocolate confections. A beautifully sculpted chocolate shell conceals a centre of filling which explodes with a surprising texture and flavour in your mouth. Many Chocolatiers still make their chocolate pralines by hand. Every town and even small villages have chocolate stores with luxurious pralines.
The chocolate is prepared from the seeds of the cocoa which is a tree bearing large seeds pods. Most of these trees, initially discovered in America, are now growing in many equatorial countries.
After the gathering, the cocoa beans are dried by the sun and sent to the chocolate manufacturers. In the factories, the seeds are roasted and crushed to obtain the cocoa powder. They are also squeezed to make the cocoa butter.
Then the chocolate is produced by the mixing of the above powder and butter and the addition of sugar and milk powder.
The proportion of each component will determine the chocolate colour.
*The black chocolate can contain up to 70% of cocoa.
*The milk chocolate contained more milk powder.
*The white chocolate is only made from cocoa butter, sugar and milk without cocoa.
The chocolate manufacturers take care to select the best cocoa as well as the finest components in order to produce the Belgian chocolate - or “praline "- filling.
Indeed, the chocolate quality is determine by the cocoa seeds choice and the components quality which give it all its characteristics (its perfume, its colour, its touch, ...)
The Belgian artisan manufactures almost all the “praline “by hand, especially the decoration. And it becomes a unique article as he gives a personal touch to all of his creations thanks to his long experience. Then the “praline “follows the distribution channels before taking its place amongst the finest luxurious products.
The famous Belgian Chocolate: “praline " and " ballotin ".
From the beginning of its history in Belgium, the chocolate was considered as a gift. In 1912, the Belgian confectionery created the “praline ", a filled chocolate mouthful which perfectly complied with its gift vocation. To protect the delicate nature of the “praline" an adequate packaging has been patented under the name of “Ballotin ". Since that time the “ballotin de pralines “became the perfect gift appreciated in all circumstances.