Fun Facts about Chocolate in Belgium & Switzerland

Chocolate making is an art in Belgium
Chocolate making is an art in Belgium

Fun Facts About Chocolate in Belgium and Switzerland

Explore these chocolate worlds of pure imagination 

 
Hands up - who's a chocoholic? It's ok, it's Easter time and you're allowed to be.

Indulge in some intriguing chocolatey facts about Belgium and Switzerland.
 
Frey Chocolate Factory in Switzerland |  <i>Switzerland Tourism</i>
 

Fun Chocolate Facts about Belgium

 
Belgium is home to more chocolate factories than any other country on earth, it's known as the ‘chocolate capital of the world’.

Belgium got its famous reputation when King Leopold II started harvesting cocoa crops in the late 19th century in the Congo. While the ingredients are imported to Belgium, it’s the production within the country that is special. Law requires chocolate to be 35% pure cocoa and to not include vegetable based, artificial or palm oil based fats - if they do so they can’t be labelled as Belgian chocolate. 
 
Discover the beautiful medieval architecture of Ghent |  <i>Milo Profi</i>
 
There are over 2,000 chocolatiers in Belgium and they produce some 172,000 tonnes annually, enough for 22kg per Belgian (however they export most of it). Brussels airport is the biggest chocolate retailer in the world.

Pralines. Belgian pralines consist of a chocolate shell with a softer, sometimes liquid, filling, traditionally made of different combinations of hazelnut, almonds, sugar, syrup and often milk-based pastes. Also known as ‘soft centre chocolates’, ‘fondants’ and ‘chocolate bonbons’. First created in 1912 by chocolatier Jean Neuhaus II, pralines can be shaped like seashells, fish, diamonds.

Truffles. 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. Inside is a soft ganache of liquid, or fruit, nut or coffee.
 
Enjoying the evening light in Bruges |  <i>Richard Tulloch</i>

Neuhaus. This chocolate retailer has over 1500 shops in 50 countries. They also invented the chocolate gift box to prevent damage.

Leonidas. One of the highest producing, widespread chocolate retailers in the world, with 350 shops in Belgium and 1250 shops in 50 countries. They charge about 25 Euros for a kilo of chocolate.
 
Godiva. Founded in 1926 in Brussels, this retailer has annual sales of $500m. The brand was named after an 11th century noblewoman who rode naked (covered only by her long hair) through Coventry to protest the oppressive tax imposed by her husband on his tenants. Her figure is the company logo.

Cote d’Or. French for Gold Coast, the former name of Ghana and where they get most of their cocoa beans. The company was founded in 1883 and feeds 600m products to Belgians annually. 1.3 million small chocolate bars and 2 million bonbons are produced daily.
 
Choco-Story. The Chocolate Museum in Bruges. Inside you can watch chocolate being made and understand the health benefits of chocolate.
 
> Dream about sampling these sublime chocolates on location on a UTracks' walking or cycling tour in Belgium.
 
Chocolate making is an art in Belgium

Fun Chocolate Facts about Switzerland


Lindt. David Sprüngli-Schwarz and his daughter, Anna Burleson, owned a small confectionery shop in the old town of Zürich in 1845. Up until 1879, chocolate was mostly consumed as a drink – it looked and tasted nothing like the sweet, silky bars we have today. Modern edible chocolate was developed from a process called conching, invented by Rodolphe Lindt. The technique involves blending cacao over the course of hours or even days to reach the perfect flavour and consistency.

Nestle. A Swiss transnational food and beverage company headquartered in Vevey, Vaud, Switzerland. It is the largest food company in the world measured by revenues and have 29 brands making over a billion dollars annually. One of its big brands is Kit Kat, which is renowned for its strange flavours. Kit Kat flavours include green tea, soy sauce, cherry blossom, sake, crème brulee and ginger ale. These flavours are mainly released in Japan, where the rough translation of Kit Kat means 'good luck'.
 
Classic Swiss scenery on the Alpine Pass Route |  <i>Andrew Bain</i>

Cows and cowbells. The Swiss absolutely love their milk because it's essential to produce their first class cheese and chocolate. As such, they worship their cows. Swiss cows are placed on different grazing grounds of mountains during summer which affects the kinds of cheese and chocolate that can be produced depending on their food intake. To make the cows happier they are provided bells which are said to relax the animals and make the cheese taste nicer. At the end of the summer, the cow who has produced the most milk is given the largest bell and taken through town in a parade.

Ovomaltine. Ovaltine in England & other parts of the world it is a hot (or cold) malt or chocolate drink mixture & was invented in Bern, Switzerland. Described as a delicious and nutritious morning drink to be mixed with milk, it is full of vitamins, provides energy with no added sugar (only in Switzerland) & can be used to flavour muesli. Similar to Milo which is a popular Australian milk additive.
 
> Keen to sample chocolate while listening to the cowbells? Scroll through our unique walking and cycling tours in Switzerland.
 
Aeschbach Chocolatier |  <i>Switzerland Tourism</i>
 

Discover Belgium and Switzerland on our walking and cycling tours

 
 
 
 
What is the Easter bunny bringing you? Let us know in the comments! 
 
  
Chocolate, Belgium, Switzerland, Swiss, Belgian

Comment (0)

Your comment will be visible after the administrator's approval.







b i u quote


Save Comment
Join Newsletter
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/ADS.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Adventures South"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Adventure South</div>
Adventure South NZ is unrivalled in their geographic coverage, originality and overall quality of adventures holidays in New Zealand. Choose from walking, cycling, winter or multi-activity holidays, on either the North or South Island.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/AWH.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Australian Walking Holidays"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Australian Walking Holidays</div>
Australian Walking Holidays specialises in small group guided walking adventures. Since 1982 we have been guiding small groups of travellers on Australia's finest walks across our tropical, coastal or red centre landscapes.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/GCT.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Great Canadian Trails"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Great Canadian Trails</div>
Great Canadian Trails specialises in active holidays in Canada. With both guided and supported self-guided options available, our unique itineraries draw upon some of Canada's most inspiring parks, trails and landscapes from coast to coast.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/HUM.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Humac Challenge"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Huma Charity Challenge</div>
Huma enables those with adventurous spirits to challenge themselves and make a difference for a cause close to their heart. Travel, fundraise and meet life-long friends on one of Huma's meaningful and unique challenges around the world.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/WB.jpg?v2' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Walkers’ Britain"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Walkers' Britain</div>
Walkers' Britain (formerly Sherpa Expeditions) have specialised in walking and cycling trips in the United Kingdom and Europe since 1973. Explore iconic trails and destinations on a self guided or small group active holiday with Walkers' Britain.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/WB.jpg?v2' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Walkers’ Britain"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Walkers' Britain</div>
Walkers' Britain (formerly Sherpa Expeditions) have specialised in walking and cycling trips in the United Kingdom and Europe since 1973. Explore iconic trails and destinations on a self guided or small group active holiday with Walkers' Britain.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/TAS.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Tasmania Expeditions"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Tasmanian Expeditions</div>
Tasmanian Expeditions is the most experienced operator of treks and adventure travel holidays in Tasmania. We own and operate the most comprehensive range of adventure holidays available across Tasmania's varied landscapes.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/UTX-new.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Utracks"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>UTracks</div>
UTracks are the active European holiday specialists. Whether you prefer cycling or walking, 2-star or 4-star, small groups or self guided, land, river or sea – UTracks can help you to explore Europe exactly the way you want.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/WYA.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="World Expeditions Schools"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>World Expeditions Schools</div>
World Expeditions Schools is our specialist division dedicated to organising tailor made overseas school group adventures. Specialists in Service Learning projects, choose from more destinations than any other school group provider.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/YOM.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Yomads"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Yomads</div>
Yomads offers adventures for the 20s and 30s on six continents. Designed as a way to bring young and likeminded travellers together, Yomads caters to those interested in lightly structured and active trips that allow freedom to roam and explore.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/ACT.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Australian Cycle Tours"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Australian Cycle Tours</div>
Australian Cycle Tours specialises in high quality self guided and guided cycling experiences in a selection of the most beautiful regions in Australia.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/WEX.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="World Expeditions"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>World Expeditions</div>
The pioneers of original, worldwide adventure travel holidays since 1975
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/TJX.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Trail Journeys"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Trail Journeys</div>
Self-guided cycling experts on New Zealand's Otago Rail Trail and more
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/BMAC.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Blue Mountains Adventure Company"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Blue Mountains Adventure Company</div>
The original Blue Mountains canyoning, hiking, climbing and abseiling experts
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/GWNZ.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Great Walks of New Zealand"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Great Walks of New Zealand</div>
Explore New Zealand's most spectacular wilderness regions with the self-guided hiking experts
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/NAA.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="North America Active"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>North America Active</div>
USA Canada hiking & cycling tour specialists, choose from self-guided or guided trips