The Allure and History of Gourmet French Foods, French Chocolates & Candies
http://www.foodndrinks.net/articles/5461/1/The-Allure-and-History-of-Gourmet-French-Foods-French-Chocolates--Candies/Page1.html
Gerard Patreson
Read more about gourmet French foods, French chocolate and candy, wines, cheeses, mustards, spices, jams & jellies. By Gerard Patreson
Published on 02/11/2010
An overview of the finest of gourmet French foods; French chocolate and candies.
Gourmet French foods, especially French chocolates and candies, make delicious gifts that remind us of the allure of French cuisine that makes it popular worldwide. Furthermore, each time that we eat a decadent French truffle or chocolate bar, we also eat a lot of history. French gourmet chocolates and candies have enjoyed one very sweet history that makes them more than just a yummy treat. Here is a brief history of how French gourmet chocolates and candies came to be one of the most popular sweets in the world.
The origin of gourmet French chocolates and candies can be reasonably attributed to King Louis XV in 1643. King Louis XV absolutely loved chocolate. So much so in fact that he appointed Sieur David Illou to manufacture and sell chocolates. This allowed members of his Royal Court to enjoy a bitter tasting concoction that was thought to have powerful aphrodisiac properties. This concoction was usually drunk or made into huge bars that could be pried apart into pieces.
Because chocolate had so many alleged aphrodisiac properties, the Royal Court eventually could not keep this wonderful mixture all to themselves. The chocolate mania soon spread by the 1650's-1660's to Paris where gourmet chocolates became a mainstay that remains with them to this day. During this time, chocolate candy pieces were introduced to the public. This happened because people soon learned that chocolate and other sweet treats could be sold more profitably if they were sold in bite-sized pieces. As a result, people of all ranks of society who lived in Paris became hooked on gourmet chocolates.
By the end of Louis XV's long reign in 1715, the chocolate craze had spread throughout France. Furthermore, by the end of the 18th century, chocolate became a world-wide phenomenon that to this day is still celebrated by people.
Once chocolate became a popular fixture with the French, it soon became apparent that French chocolates and candies were the best in the world. This reputation grew in the 17th and 18th and early 19th centuries as chefs of all backgrounds were beginning to realize what one could do with the versatility of French cuisine.
This had a positive impact on chocolate makers around the world because they were able to see for themselves the painstaking techniques and the high-quality ingredients that were used to produce French candy and chocolate. As the mania spread for gourmet French foods, chocolate makers were consistently updating and passing their knowledge of making fine French chocolate and candy to new generations of chocolate makers. As a result, this knowledge influenced chocolate makers around the world so much that its influence remains with us today. This is the case because many of the techniques and ingredients that are used today to make gourmet chocolates are the original techniques and ingredients the French promoted in the 17th and 18th centuries.
For these reasons, whenever you taste a French chocolate you also taste an amazing history that still influences fine chocolate makers around the world.
The origin of gourmet French chocolates and candies can be reasonably attributed to King Louis XV in 1643. King Louis XV absolutely loved chocolate. So much so in fact that he appointed Sieur David Illou to manufacture and sell chocolates. This allowed members of his Royal Court to enjoy a bitter tasting concoction that was thought to have powerful aphrodisiac properties. This concoction was usually drunk or made into huge bars that could be pried apart into pieces.
Because chocolate had so many alleged aphrodisiac properties, the Royal Court eventually could not keep this wonderful mixture all to themselves. The chocolate mania soon spread by the 1650's-1660's to Paris where gourmet chocolates became a mainstay that remains with them to this day. During this time, chocolate candy pieces were introduced to the public. This happened because people soon learned that chocolate and other sweet treats could be sold more profitably if they were sold in bite-sized pieces. As a result, people of all ranks of society who lived in Paris became hooked on gourmet chocolates.
By the end of Louis XV's long reign in 1715, the chocolate craze had spread throughout France. Furthermore, by the end of the 18th century, chocolate became a world-wide phenomenon that to this day is still celebrated by people.
Once chocolate became a popular fixture with the French, it soon became apparent that French chocolates and candies were the best in the world. This reputation grew in the 17th and 18th and early 19th centuries as chefs of all backgrounds were beginning to realize what one could do with the versatility of French cuisine.
This had a positive impact on chocolate makers around the world because they were able to see for themselves the painstaking techniques and the high-quality ingredients that were used to produce French candy and chocolate. As the mania spread for gourmet French foods, chocolate makers were consistently updating and passing their knowledge of making fine French chocolate and candy to new generations of chocolate makers. As a result, this knowledge influenced chocolate makers around the world so much that its influence remains with us today. This is the case because many of the techniques and ingredients that are used today to make gourmet chocolates are the original techniques and ingredients the French promoted in the 17th and 18th centuries.
For these reasons, whenever you taste a French chocolate you also taste an amazing history that still influences fine chocolate makers around the world.