A Look At Some Of The Most Famous French Chocolate Makers

By: Gregg Hall
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:18:02
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

French chocolate is one of the most popular types of confection in the world. It is used in many tasty treats such as chocolate mousse and the ever popular chocolate eclair. Chocolate truffles have long been favored for their rich taste and texture and chocolate covered pralines were also made popular by the French. Chocolate was not just considered a confection in France. It was also used for medicinal purposes and reported to be beneficial with health problems.

You may be interested to know that the French had a hand in making chocolate famous in areas besides France. During the mid 1800s, a Frenchman named Etienne Guittard was hoping to make his fortune in the California gold rush. He headed to the Barbary Coast where instead of mining for gold to make his living, he ended up growing rich by selling chocolate. In 1686, he opened the Guittard Chocolate factory where it is still family owned and operated to this day.

The first London chocolate store, then called a chocolate house, was established by a Frenchman in 1657. The name of the store was the Coffee Mill and Tobacco roll. The chocolate that was sold there was so expensive that only wealthy patrons could afford to purchase it.

There are other very famous, French chocolate makers that still have shops and factories that have continued to be popular long after they were established.

In 1945, Maurice Bernachon opened the Bernachon Chocolate Factory in Lyons, France when he was only 26. He was trained in the art of chocolate making by his parents at the young age of 14. Today, 60 years later, the Bernachon factory is still famous for its delicious chocolate.

In 1660, a Frenchman named Debauve was dubbed the first "Royal Chocolate Maker", by King Louis the 14th of France after he had received a wedding gift of chocolate from his wife Marie Therese. In 1800, approximately a century and ? later, one of his descendents named Sulpice Debauve established a chocolate shop in Paris.

His chocolate was so revered that he was able to open additional shops and had established 60 of them by 1804. He had a nephew named Antoine Gallais, who partnered up with him in 1823 and the name of his shops changed to Debauve and Gaillais. Continuing in the tradition of his ancestor, Kings Louis XVIII and Charles X appointed them the Official Chocolatiers of the French Court. Although Sulpice Debauve died in 1836, his legacy still continues with the company he founded in 1804.

French chocolate has had a strong impact on history. Many of the delicious chocolates that you enjoy today are due to the innovations of the French who took the simple cocoa bean and turned it into an entire industry.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as French chocolate at www.frenchchocolatedelivery.com

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Food & Beverage category

  • How to Get Your Mo Jo Back - By: Marsha Hinde
    Have you lost a little Mo Jo? Wanna' get it back. Then it's time to turn on the HEAT - heat in the spa that is!
  • New England Lobster Clambake is Fast and Fun! - By: Rex Magnum
    If you love seafood, then www.qualityfreshseafood.com is definitely the place for you. Of course we have succulent lobsters, but the seafood does not stop there! When you order from us, you are assured of many things. You are going to get the top quality seafood that you expect. It's going to be fresh caught. And it's going to be delivered right to your door overnight.
  • The unique produce of Scotland adds to its cultural heritage - By: Paul McIndoe
    Scotland embodies a diverse and rich culture. Food and drink comprises an important part of its heritage, and with unique offerings such as whisky and haggis, the island has secured global recognition.
  • Is Bottled Water Better Than Tap? - By: Gregg Ess
    It can be argued that bottled water is the fastest growing choice for a drink in the United States. Americans spend billions of dollars on it. Some people prefer it to other beverages like soda. Others may think it is safer than their tap water. And yet others just think the taste of bottled water is better than tap
  • Requirements for Kosher Meat - By: Marcia Henin
    What makes a meat kosher - the requirements and process of making kosher meat.
  • How to Choose the Right Catering Service? - By: Marcia Henin
    Catering services are a big issue when one is setting up an event that includes food. This article will give out some tips and highlights for how to choose the right catering service.
  • Kosher Food - The Way of Eating - By: Marcia Henin
    Many people, not necessarily Jewish ones, are transferring to kosher food. This article is about their reasons and beliefs about how kosher food is healthier then non-kosher food.
  • The Barista Realtors of Tel Aviv - By: Justin Havre
    Are you a Realtor that's been racking your brain for clever ways to get clients to come to you? Ways to trim the cost of the celebratory luncheon? Eliminate cold calls? Cut down on driving time? Sure you are. And though technology seems to be the answer to almo
  • Bistros and Restaurants in Paris, France - By: Martyn Davis
    There are thousands of different bistros, cafes and restaurants in Paris, which will range from having a quick snack to having a full blown A la Carte meal at one of the top table restaurants that serve haute cuisine.
  • Pistachios - A Perfect Hostess Gift - By: Bethany Chastain
    Do you ever think about finding the perfect hostess gift? Think about presenting the hostess with an attractive container of pistachio nuts. What a great one-of-a-kind idea! Almost everyone likes pistachios and lots of people think they are a tasty treat.