Chocolate lovers everywhere appreciate quality. Good ingredients make good chocolate and Belgian chocolate has a reputation for being the best. This may have been the boast of the Swiss at one time, before the Belgians raced ahead. There is a long tradition of chocolate making in Belgium, which only needed a good marketing campaign to bring it to the attention of the rest of us. There are even chocolate museums there! In 1912, the filled chocolate recipe known as the praline was invented in Belgium. The residents there have always been fond of exchanging chocolates as presents and they are very proud of the worldwide popularity of their export. The key to the high standard of Belgian chocolate lies in the selection of the best cocoa seeds and other ingredients. It's apparent when inferior cocoa is used in any chocolate as it leaves an unpleasant after taste. Good chocolate always gives a rich, full flavor, which lingers in the mouth. The Belgian manufacturing process is done mainly by hand, including the final decoration. The range of products is wide, with different center fillings in plain, milk and white chocolate. The attention to quality applies to the packaging too, and Belgian chocolate makes the ideal gift, all tied up in a ribbon. Fillings include liqueurs, fruit, caramel, buttercream, ganache and mocha. There is also nougat, whipped cream, ginger, almonds, coffee, cinnamon spice and rum. If you feel like experimenting with unusual flavors, there is coriander, lime or jasmine tea. Chocolate can be taken in many forms and is gorgeous in chocolate mousse, cake and truffles. Belgian chocolate that is used in cooking will make everything taste better than normal. It's also a good idea for chocolate fountains. This marvelous invention is all the rage for parties and receptions. They are the answer to a chocoholic's prayer, with rivers of warm, liquid chocolate. The idea is to dip things like fruit and biscuits into the chocolate goo. Strawberries and bananas work very well, as do marshmallows and fudge. You can get Belgian chocolate refills for the fountain, so you never have to run out. You can even dismantle the fountain to put in the dishwasher. Continental chocolate in general has much to teach the rest of the world. Some chocolate is overfilled with milk or sugar, preventing the full flavor of the cocoa to come through. The Aztecs knew the value of the cocoa bean and didn't have any sugar to sweeten it.
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