Sweet Escape: Discovering the Best Belgian Chocolate in Brussels

Aug 17, 2011 by admin

High quality ingredients, strictly traditional Old World manufacturing techniques, and an extreme attention to detail: there are some of the factors which make Belgian chocolate taste mouth-wateringly amazing.

A traditional Belgian chocolate maker will source only the best sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa beans, fruit, hazelnuts and coffee. The melted chocolate will arrive at the shop fresh and gooey in a heated tanker, holding all of its flavour, rather than the solid form which larger chocolate companies use. They will create their magnificent treats in small shops with old-fashioned hand-powered equipment.

Each delicious bite will be sculpted and decorated by hand, according to recipes which have been tried and tested over the last few centuries. Although it is much more expensive than picking up a chocolate bar at your local supermarket, these artisan Belgian chocolates are a true work of art and a taste sensation far beyond anything you have ever sampled before.

Shopping For Chocolates in Brussels

While you are visiting Brussels, you must take the opportunity to sample one of these authentic Belgian chocolates. Brussels, the capital city of Belgium, is an excellent place to find Belgian chocolate and you will have several quality shops to choose from.

When shopping for Belgian chocolate in Brussels, make sure that you look for ones that are 100% made in Belgium, and don’t accept any imitations. Belgian chocolates are made with 100% cocoa butter and not vegetable oil which is what makes them such high quality and taste so good.

Don’t be fooled by the cheap boxes of chocolates stacked on top of each other in the tourist shops. These are just mass manufactured chocolates and are nothing special. If you want to taste the real high quality chocolate of Belgium, you need to visit a proper chocolate shop where the treats are made by hand.

At the Chocolate Shop

At most chocolate shops, there will be a counter filled with a wide array of different chocolate choices and some empty gift boxes on the counter. You can pick and choose your chocolates to fill your gift box, and you will pay by weight.

If you are looking to purchase some sweet treats to enjoy here or to take home, here are a few of the best chocolate shops in Brussels:

Pierro Marcolini: If you are looking for an exquisite take-away cake for a special celebration, this is the place to go. This store also has excellent ice cream.
Passion Chocolat: This shop features beautifully designed artisan chocolates, and will often have free samples on display.
Wittamer: Located in the Place de Grand Sablon-Grote Zavel Plein, this shop has the ultimate creamy and smooth hot chocolate, which you can enjoy in their on-site cafe.
Godiva: Very pricey, but one of the very best of the best.
Neuhaus: With so many different varieties to sample, this shop is a chocoholic paradise.

There is one more thing to remember about buying Belgian chocolates in Brussels. Because these types of chocolates are made fresh and contain no preservatives, you will need to eat them within a week or two or they will go bad. However, with how sinfully delicious they are, this should not be a problem!