http://www.cheerychocolate.com/chocolates/ Chocolates have a enjoyed a very long history. One of the greatest achievements came when they finally started making chocolates that were small enough to op in your mouth! en-us Wed, 28 Sep 2005 10:44:46 EDT Wed, 28 Sep 2005 10:44:46 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 When chocolate first came on to the European scene it had a long way to go before it resembled that which we know today. When the first explorers brought it back with them from the New World, it was a bitter, frothy beverage. Even in this form it did become popular, but the Spanish world not let the world in on their secret for over a hundred years. Once it became available to other parts of Europe, it made leaps and bounds that brought it ever closer to what we know today as gourmet chocolates. It wasn't until the 20th century that there was even such a thing as chocolates at all! Our debt to Belgium for having given us all the gift of small chocolates Where else but Belgium would small chocolates have been born? Form many decades chocolate had been a traditional gift, but it was still not available to the masses and was only produced in relatively large pieces that would then be broken apart in order to eat. But, in 1912 a Belgian confectionary created the now famous "praline", the first of all the bite-sized filled chocolates. After the invention of these small , delectable chocolates he was presented now with the problem of how to ensure that would reach buyers without getting damaged. And so, clever as he was, he also came up with the packaging for his pralines that is still used today, the "ballotin de pralines" - now chocolates really were the perfect gift! Belgium remains at the forefront of quality, gourmet chocolates such as Godiva chocolates. The best cacao beans are used and are judged according to their feel, smell, and color. Most of the Belgian pralines are also still made by hand, most notably all of the decoration on their shells, which gives each praline a very personal touch from the chocolatier. Although they are of good quality, other countries products, like German chocolates still have a ways to go to catch up with Belgium. Wed, 28 Sep 2005 10:44:46 EDT http://www.cheerychocolate.com/chocolates/european.html European chocolates - it is no wonder that the French are at the top of the list of the finest European chocolates. en-us Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:54:49 EDT Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:54:49 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 http://www.cheerychocolate.com/chocolates/gourmet.html Gourmet chocolates - what does it really mean to be called gourmet chocolates? en-us Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:54:49 EDT Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:54:49 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 http://www.cheerychocolate.com/chocolates/godiva.html Godiva chocolates have remained a world favorite for decades. You can find Godiva chocolates in almost every corner of the globe. en-us Tue, 08 Nov 2005 14:57:54 EST Tue, 08 Nov 2005 14:57:54 EST Weblog Editor 2.0