The origin of this delectable confection traces its roots to Central and South America, where the cacao beans were first grown. The native Aztecs in modern-day Mexico and other civilizations in the area drank chocolate mixed with chilies and achiote called “xocotatl” (bitter water) or “chocolatl” (hot water). Cacao beans were so valuable among the Aztecs that it was even used as tax payments. It was Chris...

If there is one chocolatier that represents Belgian Chocolate, it is definitely Leonidas. The company, Leonidas Conifeserie SA, was founded by Leonidas Kestekides, a Greek confectioner who moved to the United States in the late 1800s. Kestekides traveled to France in 1900 to participate in the international food fair as an exhibitor. Ten years later, he represented Greece in the World Fair held in Brussels, the c...

Belgium is one of the few countries in the world known for its delectable fine chocolate. How this small country become home of some of the best chocolatiers, however, is not so sweet. It began in the 1880s, when Belgium was ruled by King Leopold II. He laid the foundations in controlling the Congo Free State (present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo) in Africa that provided easy access to the vast cocoa grou...

We may have heard about the finest chocolates in Europe, but do you know that there are also great chocolates that are found in good ol’ USA? The popular periodical USA Today has compiled a list of 10 places across the mainland where you can have the finest chocolates you can either give to your loved ones or savor for yourself. John & Kira’s Chocolates Philadelphia At first glances, their chocolat...

Of course, you cannot just empty a whole box of fine chocolate in just one sitting. This is why you need to know how to store your fine treats to avoid sacrificing its flavor and color. You do not want to see your chocolates with gray spots once you open them for the second time. Where to store – Place your chocolate in a cool, dry, and dark place. The storage place has to be cool enough not to soften the choc...

We may have heard about the rules in tasting wine, but do you know that tasting the finest chocolates also follow certain protocols? Because fine chocolates are made with the finest ingredients, tasters can better appreciate their sweet treats if they follow these tasting tips, as suggested master chocolatiers. Look at the chocolate – Check each chocolate piece and esteem its appearance. The finest of chocolate...

There are many kinds of chocolate available in the market, but how can we tell fine chocolate from sub-standard ones? The best way to know is to check the labels and read the ingredients. Fine chocolate should contain a standardized set of ingredients, which should never be substituted but can be left out. Dark chocolate – Its main ingredients should contain cacao liquor, sugar, cacao butter, lecithin, and vani...

L.A. Burdick Chocolates are known for making quality hand-made chocolate creations. These chocolates are not similar to those that you might buy from supermarkets or shops which usually contain more sugar than chocolate. L.A. Burdick chocolates are actually what experts might call as true chocolate creations. It is something of a rarity in US shores once upon a time. L.A. Burdick first started when Larry Burdick ...

[/caption] Everybody can easily say that they love chocolate. But there are also others who try to look for more when choosing chocolates. They don’t usually settle for the ordinary ones. They look for chocolates that are better and offer a different experience not just limited to how chocolates taste. There are also people who loo...

[/caption] Everybody loves chocolate. But there are those who may have finer tastes in chocolate than others. There are those that fond of chocolates of the gourmet kind. For those who are interested in gourmet chocolate, here are some of the top gourmet chocolate makers that you can find online. L.A. Burdick L.A. Burdick is an online gou...