Now our Stuffed Chocolate fans know we use imported Belgian chocolate as our house brand, Callebaut being our go-to brand. Since we always point out our love of Belgian chocolater, customers many times ask what it is that makes Belgian chocolate different than, say, Hersheys? Well, youre getting your answer now, but only after a little history lesson.... During the 17th century, Belgium was ruled by Spain and and so was introduced very early in the game to chocolate. If you had read one of our previous posts, the Spaniards (and therefore the Belgians) didnt blab to the world about chocolate. They just enjoyed it! Strangely enough, Henri Escher, mayor of Zurich, Switzerland was so enthusiastic about the chocolate drink he experienced in Brussels that he introduced the idea to Switzerland. As it turns out, Swiss chocolate is now a primary competitor to Belgian chocolate. Chocolates populatrity with the masses did not occur until the latter half of the 19th Century under Belgian King Leopold II colonized the Congo and extended cocoa cultivation began to West Africa, which provided an ideal environment, as well as plentiful slave labor, for cocoa production. Obviously not an enlightened approach to the way people should be treated, but the result for today os an extensive range of cocoa plantations which provide supply at a reasonable price.
Posted on: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 21:50:01 +0000
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