A sticky Belgian

No, it’s not a politician, nor a crook (or is that the same?) nor an artist, nor an animal, nor a vegetable … What is it then? It’s a toffee. But not your everyday kind of toffee …

You either like sweets or you don’t. That’s only human. However, there is one Belgian specialty that even the world’s biggest candy hater loves: Chokotoff, a sticky chocolate caramel with a luscious coating of dark chocolate. It’s made by the famous Belgian ‘chocolatier’ Côte d‘Or, a.k.a. ‘the Elephant’.

As the maker describes it, this bonbon is made for the real gourmets who want to make the chocolate sensation last as long as possible. What you do is this: you remove the wrapping paper, next you delicately put the bonbon on you tongue. Then you close your eyes and you let the chocolate coating slowly melt in your mouth. Hmmm, sheer heaven!

When the chocolate is melted, careful bite on the caramel and very, very slowly savour the delicate chocolate caramel flavour that fills your mouth. Take it easy; don’t try to chew too fast, as the caramel will stick to your teeth, making it impossible for you to answer when someone asks you: “What’s that you have in your mouth?"

When you eat a Chokotoff as described above, the pleasure will last for a very long time; up to 10 minutes if you are really careful.

I had to unwrap a Chokotoff to shoot this photo.
And then of course ... I had no other option than to eat it!

 

Is your mouth watering by now? In that case, you can order your Chokotoffs here.

Chokotoffs have been around for as long as I can remember. In order to write this post, I did some web surfing to find out when they were first sold. This is what I found. The brand ‘Côte D’Or’ was registered by the artisan chocolatier Charles Neuhaus on April 24th, 1883. It refers to the ‘Gold Coast” in Ghana, where he used to buy part of his cacao beans. In 1898 he sells the brand to Mr. and Mrs. Bieswaél. In 1899 Bieswael’s company merges with NV Lambert Michiels. On July 16th, 1906 both companies launch the NV Alimenta and the brand Côte d’Or. The logo with the Elephant, the palm tree and the three pyramids is introduced at that moment too.

The ‘Chokotoff’ is launched in 1929 as the ‘Supertoff’*. During the World Exhibition of 1935 in Brussels the brand ‘Côté D’Or’ gains international fame. Due to a lack of cacao beans the production of the Côte d’Or factory comes to a temporary halt during WW2. After the war the ‘Elephant’ sets out to conquer the world!

Btw just recently Côte d’Or launched a white Chokotoff. Hardly a week later the company informed the public that, due the immense demand, the complete stock had already been sold. Each time I go to the supermarket I look out for the new Chokotoff, but all my attempts have been in vain till now.

(*) Although the suffix 'toff' refers to 'toffee', in Flemish the word 'tof' (with one 'f') means 'swell'! No wonder everybody likes a Chokotoff!