| How many times have you stared at those exquisitely | | | | of "praline". Praline is the chocolate shell filled with soft |
| crafted sea shells poking out from a box? The color, | | | | milk chocolate that melts in the mouth. The praline was |
| the shape and the details often make one wonder | | | | then given the shape of shells, which was |
| whether it is truly something edible or is it just a | | | | hand-crafted to reach perfection. |
| show-piece. | | | | The praline being very soft, packaging was introduced |
| But do you know the history behind Belgian | | | | for the chocolate shells which came to be known as |
| chocolates? Do you know that most Belgian | | | | "ballotin". So these special chocolates came to be |
| chocolates are handcrafted? Do you know how many | | | | known as "ballotin de praline". The wonderful chocolate, |
| tons of chocolates are exported from Belgium every | | | | the eye-catching packaging made these chocolates |
| year? If you do not, then go ahead and read about | | | | great gifts since then. |
| some of the interesting facts about chocolate, how did | | | | Even today many chocolate makers create the |
| it all start and what is it today? | | | | pralines by hand in Belgium. |
| Chocolates were discovered as early as the 15th | | | | Belgium produces over 170 thousand tons of |
| century, drank as a bitter concoction and considered | | | | chocolates every year. |
| to be a cure for diseases (Yeah! Wish chocolates | | | | Today Belgian chocolates may have nut covers, |
| could cure ailments; no body would have shied away | | | | liqueur filling, dark chocolate filling, and crispy shells. |
| from medicines). | | | | If you are traveling to Belgium, know that there are a |
| At one point of time cocoa was considered sacred. | | | | number of chocolate events that take place through |
| In old days cocoa seeds were roasted, grinded, mixed | | | | out the year. From sampling chocolates for free to |
| with spices and made into a bitter drink. It is said that | | | | getting valuable insight into the manufacturing process, |
| only the affluent could afford it. | | | | Belgium has over the years become a chocolate |
| Many used cocoa seeds to buy gold in those days. | | | | connoisseurs' heaven. |
| Adding sugar to the erstwhile bitter drink was an | | | | The most important ingredient that makes Belgian |
| amendment that came from the European nobles, | | | | chocolates so delightful is the careful selection of the |
| laying the path that eventually took the confectionery | | | | cocoa beans, which are the finest in the world. Often |
| world by storm. | | | | the cocoa seeds are still hand picked as the legend |
| Chocolate was introduced to the Belgians in the early | | | | goes. |
| 1900s. What they made out of it is now history. | | | | The remaining ingredients are also chosen with great |
| The uniqueness in Belgian chocolates is in the creation | | | | care. |