Greatest Chocolate in Paris
From a Mayan royal drink to a Twentieth-century luxurious product, the cocoa bean has come an extended technique to discover its second dwelling in Europe!
Though Switzerland and Belgium are greatest identified for his or her well-known chocolate manufacturers, there’s no denying that among the world’s greatest chocolatiers are present in France. Bayonne is the capital of chocolate in France, however as one of many world’s nice culinary capitals, Paris additionally has many magnificent chocolate retailers price exploring.
Find out about chocolate in Paris and France and style the best chocolate on the town throughout this self-guided Paris chocolate tour within the Le Marais neighborhood.
Workshops and guided chocolate excursions in Paris
The Little Historical past of Chocolate in Paris and France
Delivered to Spain by Hernan Cortés in 1524, cocoa beans remained underneath the Habsbourg’s arms till the start of the XVIIth century.
In France, chocolate arrived within the baggage of Anne of Austria, daughter of Philip III of Spain, who left her homeland to marry King Louis XIII of France. Merely, Anne and her Courtroom weren’t able to resign their favourite drink!
The style for chocolate solely unfold within the Royal Courtroom on the King’s demise, at the start of Anne of Austria’s regency in 1643. Chocolate, as an imported materials, remained a luxurious product for a very long time, a really uncommon commodity unknown within the provinces.
Below Louis XIV’s reign, the recognition of ingesting chocolate unfold to Versailles primarily because of his spouse, Marie-Thérèse of Austria, additionally born in Spain. She was a complete chocolate fan and used to drink 4 to five cups of chocolate each day!
King Louis XIV was not a chocolate newbie, which didn’t stop him from ordering the cultivation of beans within the French Antilles. The primary official French cargo of cocoa beans arrived in Brest in 1679.
Chocolate’s fame subsequently unfold past the avant-garde streets of Paris to the remainder of France, and it turned the beverage of selection for the French higher lessons.
In 1770, Marie-Antoinette arrived in Versailles together with her chocolate maker, who later acquired the title of “Chocolatier de la Reine.” Queen Marie-Antoinette favored to drink scorching chocolate with a little bit of brioche proper after waking up and earlier than the toilette. The Queen’s chocolate maker invented new recipes that had been softer and extra digestible than what was out there on the time, mixing chocolate with orange blossoms or candy almonds. However what Marie-Antoinettte most popular above all was simplicity: chocolate with sugar and vanilla.
It was solely within the XIXth century, with the looks of enormous factories, that chocolate was democratized, and other people started to eat it within the type of bars.
Self-Guided Chocolate Tour in Paris Le Marais
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The place to purchase chocolate in Paris? This Paris chocolate strolling tour is a delicate two-hour stroll by the Le Marais neighborhood, with its stunning galleries, historic personal mansions, and secluded gardens. Not solely will you style the most effective sweets in Paris, however each store you’ll go to is an attraction in itself!
The closest metro stops to the place to begin are Oberkampf (traces 5 and 9) and Filles du Calvaire (line 8)
GOOD TO KNOW:
- In France, you want a minimal of 32% cocoa beans to be referred to as chocolate
- With greater than 90 gr per individual per 12 months, France is among the largest chocolate customers in Europe
- Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) concentrates 60% of the chocolate’s worldwide manufacturing
- In Africa, greater than 500,000 youngsters work on chocolate. They contact 1 USD per day for his or her work.
1. Chocolaterie Jacques Genin
Jacques Genin is among the greatest artisan chocolatiers in Paris. His chocolate store within the coronary heart of Le Marais provides a really heat decor with uncovered beams, wooden floors, and leather-based armchairs.
Take pleasure in among the sweets ready by the provider of the best Parisian palaces and eating places: caramels, nougats, marrons glacés, and extra.
Tackle: 133 Rue de Turenne, Paris 3
2. La Maison du Chocolat
Based in Paris by chocolate maker Robert Linxe in 1977, the Maison du Chocolat shares with the world its love of confectionery and quest for perfection. Now headed by acclaimed Nicolas Cloiseau – Meilleur Ouvrier de France Chocolatier – his crew of chocolatiers solely makes use of the most effective elements to create their ganache, pralines, and different treats.
The Maison du Chocolat is well-known for its scrumptious éclairs: stunning, scrumptious, and never costly.
Tackle: 14 Rue de Bretagne, Paris 3 (however they produce other retailers in Paris)
3. Jean-Paul Hévin
Jean-Paul Hévin is among the greatest French chocolate makers. He has an extended record of awards, together with the title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France in pastries and confectionery.
His Chocolate Bar(re) store in Le Marais is like strolling right into a tremendous jewellery store, a spot devoted to the cacao Grand Cru. Uncover chocolate in tabs, macarons, and pastries of all types!
Tackle: 41 Rue de Bretagne, Paris 3 (however he has different retailers in Paris)
4. Chez Mary
Chez Mary, by Mary Quarta, is greatest generally known as an ice cream store. The ice cream is all selfmade, ready instantly within the again store, and solely with the most effective merchandise. And Mary is aware of how one can do it! In 2008, she even gained the “cono d’oro,” first prize in an Italian ice cream competitors, beating all the large names within the occupation.
Aside from her scrumptious ice cream, which I like to recommend, Mary has a particular place on this record of the most effective chocolate retailers in Paris for her scrumptious scorching chocolate. After the order, it takes her round 10 minutes to come back again along with your glass of scorching chocolate, which might solely be a synonym for good high quality! She prepares it within the again store in a easy and artisanal method.
Tackle: Mary Gelato – Pastrelli – 60 Rue du Temple, Paris 3
5. A La Mère de Famille
That is the oldest chocolate store in Paris, opening at 35 Rue Faubourg Montmartre in 1761! Since then, A La Mère de Famille has opened different retailers in Paris, and its merchandise are additionally out there on-line.
Among the many home specialties, don’t miss the well-known praline rocks, the Folies de l’Écureuil, the chocolate to unfold, and the Florentins.
Tackle: 23 Rue Rambuteau, Paris 4 (however they produce other retailers in Paris)
6. Chocolats François Pralus
The Maison Pralus was based in Roanne, the place Auguste Pralus opened a patisserie in 1948. Truly, he was the inventor of the brioche au pink praline so typical at the moment in Roanne and Lyon!
When he retired, his son François took over the household enterprise, created the chocolate manufacturing unit, and established a community of shops to promote his vary of sweets and the well-known brioche au praline.
François Pralus is among the few chocolate makers who grows and roasts his personal beans to make chocolate from the grown-ups. He additionally works with the most effective cocoa beans on this planet, so all it’s important to do is select a vacation spot for a journey stuffed with flavors.
Whenever you go to François Pralus’ store, don’t miss his flagship merchandise: the Praluline ©, the Tropical Pyramid, and the Barre Infernale. No spoilers right here; you’ll want to attempt them!
Tackle: 35 Rue Rambuteau, Paris 4
7. Jadis et Gourmande
Jadis et Gourmande is among the native’s favourite chocolate retailers in Paris, providing scrumptious and exquisite designs at cheap costs. The merchandise created by its crew of chocolatiers are distinguished by their originality and particularity. Jadis et Gourmande additionally makes a speciality of custom-made chocolate designs that you may order for particular events.
Of their fairly retailers with purple façades, there’s additionally a fountain of scorching chocolate, preferrred for a fast cease when it’s too chilly. Yum!
Tackle: 39 Rue des Archives, Paris 4
8. Patrick Roger
Patrick Roger is a rockstar within the chocolate world who wants no introduction. His hanging, atmospheric chocolate retailers in Paris supply a glimpse into the creativeness of their creator.
Every Patrick Roger boutique has its personal theme and on condition that this explicit deal with is within the “homosexual space” of Le Marais, it’s possible you’ll spot a couple of particulars labored into the design.
Take pleasure in a field of scrumptious sweets made with cocoa beans meticulously sourced by Patrick Roger himself. And since wine is rarely removed from chocolate, Patrick Roger additionally owns a small winery within the Corbières area that you may purchase in the identical store to create good wine and chocolate pairings.
Tackle: 43 Rue des Archives, Paris 4
9. Pierre Hermé
Pierre Hermé’s chocolate store in Le Marais is sort of a little gem the place you might be invited to indulge your self. Pierre Hermé is inquisitive about every little thing, and every little thing evokes him. However Japan has a particular place in his coronary heart, so it’s commonplace to seek out surprising mixes, shapes, or flavors which can be an ode to the Japanese tradition.
Welcome to a gourmand journey the place macaron containers, truffles, and sweets are on the coronary heart of your needs.
Tackle: 18 Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie, Paris 3 (however he has different retailers in Paris)
10. Maison Georges Larnicol
Born and raised in Brittany, Georges Larnicol (Meilleur Ouvrier de France – Pâtissier in 1993) is greatest identified for its chocolate sculptures and a few of its flagship merchandise just like the Kouignette (c) and the Boule à Jojo (c)
Its stunning chocolate store in Le Marais is price a deep exploration. It provides a beautiful choice of sweets, macarons, fudges, candies, and truffles. After all, the truffles and sweets from Brittany even have a particular place at Georges Larnicol!
Tackle: 14 Rue de Rivoli, Paris 4
And there you could have it, a self-guided chocolate tour in Paris to discover among the greatest chocolate retailers in Paris. Alongside this strolling tour, additionally, you will cross by Pierre Marcolini – Bruxelles (5 Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie) and Elisabeth Chocolatier Belge (22 Rue Vieille du Temple) in case you additionally wish to attempt Belgian chocolate.