Belgian chocolate

Some varieties of pralines in a chocolatier in Antwerp

Belgian chocolate (French: chocolat belge, Dutch: Belgische chocolade) is chocolate produced in Belgium, a country in Western Europe. A major industry since the 19th century, today it forms an important part of the nation's economy and culture.

While the raw materials used in chocolate production do not originate in Belgium, the country has an association with the product which dates to the early 17th century. The industry expanded massively in the 19th century, gaining an international reputation and, together with the Swiss, became one of the commodity's most important producers in Europe. Although the industry has been regulated by law since 1894, there is no universal standard for the chocolate to be labelled "Belgian". The most commonly accepted standard dictates that the actual production of the chocolate must take place inside Belgium.

History

A chocolatier producing easter eggs in Bruges

Belgium's association with chocolate goes back as far as 1635 when the country was under Spanish occupation shortly after chocolate had been brought to Europe from Mesoamerica.^[1] By the mid 18th century, chocolate was extremely popular in upper and middle class circles, particularly in the form of hot chocolate. Among them was Charles-Alexander of Lorraine, the Austrian governor of the territory.^[2] From the early 20th century, the country was able to import large quantities of cocoa from its African colony, the Belgian Congo. Contrary to popular opinion, however, Belgium's colonies did not play an important role in the foundation of the Belgian chocolate industry.^[3] By 1900, chocolate was increasingly affordable for the Belgian working class.^[4]

The praline is an invention of the Belgian chocolate industry,^[5] as is the ballotin, a kind of packaging associated with high-quality chocolate.^[6]

Production and standards

The composition of Belgian chocolate has been regulated by law since 1894 when, in order to prevent adulteration of the chocolate with low-quality fats from other sources, a minimum level of 35 percent pure cocoa was imposed.^[7][8] Attempts to introduce industry standardisation have met with little success. An attempt by the European Economic Community (EEC) to introducing minimum standards of the amount of cocoa butter substitutes across Europe led to prolonged negotiation but the legislation finally enacted, in 2003, was viewed as excessively lenient in Belgium. In 2007, a voluntary quality standard (to which about 90 percent of the country's chocolate makers adhere)^[9] was introduced by the European Union which set certain criteria for a product to be considered "Belgian chocolate".^[9] Under this "Belgian Chocolate Code", refining, mixing and concheing must be done inside Belgium.^[9]

Many firms produce chocolates by hand, which is laborious and explains the prevalence of small, independent chocolate outlets, which are popular with tourists. Famous chocolate companies strictly follow traditional (and sometimes secret) recipes for their products.

Varieties

Pralines

Pralines made in Belgium are usually soft-centred confections with a chocolate casing. They are distinct from the nut and sugar sweets popular in France and the United States which are sometimes known by the same name. They were first introduced by Jean Neuhaus II in 1912.^[10]

There have always been many forms and shapes: nearly always containing a chocolate shell with a softer filling. Confusion can arise over the use of the word praline in Belgium as it may refer to filled chocolates in general or sometimes to traditional "praliné"-filled chocolates popular in Europe (praliné refers to caramelised hazelnuts or almonds ground into a paste). Belgian pralines are not limited to the traditional praliné filling and often include nuts, marzipan, salted caramel, coffee, liquors, cream liqueur, cherry or a chocolate blend that contrasts with the outer shell. They are often sold in stylised boxes in the form of a gift box. The largest manufacturers are Neuhaus, Godiva, Leonidas, and Guylian.

Truffles

The interior of a typical chocolate shop in Brussels

Most commonly in the form of a flaky or smooth chocolate ball or traditionally a truffle-shaped lump, Belgian chocolate truffles are sometimes in encrusted form containing wafers or coated in a high-quality cocoa powder. They contain a soft ganache which is traditionally a semi-emulsion of liquid and therefore has a couple of days shelf-life at low temperatures and/or requires refrigeration. Special truffles sometimes have a fruit, nut or coffee ganache. Rarely they feature a fruit-based liqueur or cream liqueur but remain distinguishable from pralines by their shape and texture in most cases — crossover 'praline-truffles' also exist.

Eggs, animals and figurines

Hand-finished and luxury examples of eggs, animals, figurines and Valentine's Day hearts are made by many smaller Belgian chocolatiers, as elsewhere, accounting for a relatively small market share however in peak demand at Valentine's Day, Easter, Sinterklaas and Christmas.

Economics

Chocolate plays an important part in the Belgian economy, and there are over 2,000 chocolatiers in the country,^[1] both small and large. Today, chocolate is very popular in Belgium, with 172,000 tonnes produced each year, and widely exported.^[1] Côte d'Or is probably the largest commercial brand, with their products available in virtually every grocery store in the country. The largest manufacturers of wider varieties of chocolates are mentioned at Pralines. Belgian pralines (fondants) shaped like sea shells, fish, diamonds and individualist creations topped with are sold in town centre shops, market stands and many village shops across Belgium.

See also

• Swiss chocolate
• Belgian cuisine
• Beer in Belgium
• Choco-Story - a museum in Bruges dedicated to chocolate

References

1. Savage, Maddy (31 December 2012). "Is Belgium still the capital of chocolate?". BBC. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
2. Mercier, Jacques (2008). The Temptation of Chocolate. Brussels: Lannoo. p. 87. ISBN 2873865334.
3. Moss & Badenoch 2009, p. 77.
4. Moss & Badenoch 2009, p. 63.
5. Mercier, Jacques (2008). The Temptation of Chocolate. Brussels: Lannoo. p. 101. ISBN 2873865334.
6. Moss & Badenoch 2009, p. 70.
7. Mercier, Jacques (2008). The Temptation of Chocolate. Brussels: Lannoo. p. 94. ISBN 2873865334.
8. Garrone et al. 2016, p. 108.
9. Garrone et al. 2016, p. 109.
10. Amy M. Thomas (22 December 2011). "Brussels: The Chocolate Trail". New York Times. Retrieved 25 December 2011. Ever since the Brussels chocolatier Jean Neuhaus invented the praline 100 years ago, the city has been at the forefront of the chocolate business. ... They are breaking away from traditional pralines—which Belgians classify as any chocolate shell filled with a soft fondant center...

Bibliography

• Moss, Sarah; Badenoch, Alexander (2009). Chocolate: A Global History (1st ed.). London: Reaktion Books. ISBN 978-1-86189-524-0.
• Garonne, Maria; et al. (2016). "From Pralines to Multinationals: The Economic History of Belgian Chocolates". In Squicciarini, Mara P.; Swinnen, Johan. The Economics of Chocolate. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-872644-9.

External links

• The Insider's Guide to Belgian Chocolate at Travel Hoppers