Updated on November 29, 2022 by pierre

Panorama of chocolate makers in Brussels

Brussels, capital of chocolate

If we often hear about “Brussels, European Capital”, we could just as well speak of Brussels as the “Chocolate Capital”. Aaaah the people of Brussels and passing tourists are very lucky to be able to taste all these delicious pralines. But you still have to know which brands to turn to!

With nearly 250 shops specializing in the sale of chocolates and other sweets, there is no shortage of choice. Do you know that Brussels airport would be the largest chocolate outlet in the world ? It makes your mouth water and you almost want to buy a plane ticket just to go chocolate-shopping!

Two main categories of chocolatiers

Here is a small overview of the chocolatiers found in Brussels:

• Shops family, who for generations have passed on know-how, often a century old. Chocolate surely runs through their veins. Among them : Neuhaus (inventor of the praline in 1912 and the ballotin in 1915), Leonidas (a Greek chocolate maker who stayed in Belgium in 1910 to marry his lover there), Godiva (and the beautiful legend of Lady Godiva riding her horse naked, her hair in the wind)… Their pralines are traditionally filled with butter and flavored with hazelnuts , almonds or fruit.
• The new generation chocolatiers : young, modern and innovative, they revisit recipes and innovate with original blends. Among them : Pierre Marcolini (known worldwide), Pierre Ledent (a star in Japan), Laurent Gerbaud (And its Brussels chocolate tasting workshops like wine tastings), Jean-Philippe Darcis (and its chocolate "fingers" from all over the world)... Their pralines are more generally filled with cream and give way to new ingredients: basil, chilli, tea, cardamom, fleur de sel, ginger and many others.

If just reading these few lines, you are already salivating: extend your discovery of the chocolatiers of Brussels with a Brussels chocolate tasting tour on the theme of brown gold in the historic center of the city.