Gourmet Chocolate
Ballotin de Pralines: The Belgian Gourmet Chocolate
Chocolate is one of the humanity's favorite food. Kids and adults alike eat and drink it in various forms. Chocolate is so special in fact that an average American eats 4.5 chocolates in a year.
How did chocolate start out? It was the Aztecs who first discovered chocolate. The first form of chocolate was a bitter beverage that was considered by the Aztecs as the beverage of the gods. The drink consisted mainly of the roasted kernel seeds of the cocoa fruit.
It was Christopher Columbus, a Spanish explorer who discovered the New World, who brought chocolate to the Europe. The drink was very expensive and only rich people in Europe were able to afford it. The chocolate recipe was a closely guarded secret in Spain.
Nevertheless, the success of the beverage was great that the knowledge of the recipe and of chocolate itself spread through all countries of Europe. Each country began to find ways on how to make their own gourmet chocolate by adding sugar, milk and other ingredients. This was the birth of chocolate as we know it today.
One of the most famous gourmet chocolates in the world is Belgian chocolate. When it was first introduced in Belgium, it was accepted to be a good gift to give. Later, in 1912, Belgian confectioneries created the "praline," a chocolate filling or icing. To protect its delicate taste and nature, it was protected by a packaging with the label "Ballotin." Thus, the famous Belgian gourmet chocolate, or "ballotin de pralines" was born.
What makes this gourmet chocolate special? There are a lot of factors. The cocoa seeds for use in making Belgian chocolates are carefully selected. This is especially important for the praline. The quality of the chocolate rests on the cocoa bean's color, aroma and texture.
Belgian chefs then prepare the praline by hand. This is especially true when it comes to decorating the praline. Each ballotin de pralines is unique, each has a personal touch.
Aside from being delicious, the Belgian gourmet chocolate is also healthy to eat. In fact, it is considered to be an energy provider. It contains important mineral salts such as magnesium and iron.
The praline is also an aphrodisiac, a sexual stimulant. In fact, it is considered to be the food item that inflames passions.
Ballotin de pralines is also a very good anti-depression food. Praline contains pheryletylanine, a compound that has a positive action against nervous depression.
Everyone should eat ballotin de pralines at least once. It is not just food, it is an experience.
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