Belgian, Swiss or French: What's Good Enough for Your Chocolate Gift Basket?

Chocolates are a staple in our everyday lives. In fact, it is so commonplace that we can have it whenever we want, and wherever we are. Chocolates are such a treat, so much so that even though they are widely available, people still love receiving presents of chocolate gift baskets for whatever imaginable occasion there is. The great thing about chocolate gift baskets is that they are also easy to put together. You need only to know your chocolates, select the materials for packaging, and whip up your very own decorated chocolate gift basket.

The challenge lies in scaling up the chocolate gift basket. For example, what do you do if your recipient is a chocolate lover and connoisseur? You want to give her what she loves, but you want it to be more exquisite than a bunch of candy bars that she can get from the convenience store around the corner. How then should you put together the basket?

As far as chocolates go, there are mass-produced chocolate bars that go out into the candy shops around the world. Then there are the more exotic and sophisticated ones from the chocolate capitals of Belgium, France and Switzerland. All three countries are world-famous for the quality of the chocolates that they produce. In addition to the excellent quality, the chocolates from these regions also have distinct characteristics that give them a unique signature. Before you put together your chocolate gift basket, you might want to know how to tell Belgian, Swiss and French chocolates apart without reading the label.

Of the three varieties, it is Belgian chocolate that many experts claim to be the arbiter of standards. The Belgians discovered the art of chocolate-making early on. In fact, it is said that Switzerland got their recipe from the Belgians and the French, long before people started offering chocolate gift baskets online.

According to experts, the secret behind the exquisite, world-renowned taste of Belgian chocolate is the quality of the ingredients used to make it. It is also partly because of the traditional chocolate-making methods that they continue to use, despite the advent of modern technology. In the chocolate-making regions of Belgium, it is common to see small chocolate shops that still make the chocolates by hand or using traditional machines and equipment. These chocolate shops are a tourist attraction, opening themselves up for factory tours to interested visitors. When it comes to chocolates, Belgians are most famous for their pralines. These are sweet treats consisting of a cold, chocolate shell and a variety of flavors for filling, from coffee to mint, to cream.

The Swiss, on the other hand, are chocolate lovers by nature. Swiss chocolate is distinct for its variety. You can find a specialty chocolate treat made especially for each particular season or festival in every particular region. For example, they make chocolate bunnies to celebrate Easter, and chocolate flowers to welcome spring.
Finally, the French are also a force to reckon with when it comes to chocolate making. The fact that there exists a French Academy of Chocolate and Candy Making in France is a testament to the types and quality of chocolates produced in this country. Every year, the country hosts the Chocolate Trade Show to showcase the best and the brightest master chocolatiers and their creation. Generally speaking, chocolates that look more like works of art are most probably French.

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Kevin Lance is an expert when it comes to a chocolate gift basket. To find out everything about chocolate gift baskets, visit his website at www.chocolateGiftBaskets.org.

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