What makes Belgian chocolate so irresistibly good?
Belgian chocolate has some big name fans Living in Belgium can be hazardous to the waistline, not least because of the abundance and quality of its chocolate. This country of only 10 million produces some 172,000 tons of chocolate annually and has 2,130 shops with something for every palate and budget. Belgians are among the world’s biggest chocolate consumers, eating some 9.69 kilos per capita annually. Retail outlets range from small, family owned establishments – many in the streets surrounding Brussels’ Grand’Place – to the more upmarket Wittamer, Pierre Marcolini and Godiva on the chic Place du Grand Sablon. Finally, there are the internationally renowned Leonidas and Neuhaus chains – almost as prevalent as Starbucks Coffee in the United States. Wittamer and Mary Chocolatier on rue Royale are official suppliers to the Belgian Royal Court, and the latter has even gotten business from US President George W Bush, though he did not have time for a repeat visit during his most recent s
