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Chocolate in France

Confectionery, spread, pastry, viennoiseries, powder or snack bar: chocolate has millions of fans around the world who enjoy it in all its forms every day. It even has its own annual world day initiated by… the French Academy of Chocolate and Confectionery. Because yes, in the land of gastronomy, cocoa is a serious thing.

A multi-millennial gourmet tradition

Consuming a square of chocolate a day would be good for your health: that's what a tenacious legend says, even if, scientifically, it has not been proven. Whatever the case, all pretexts are good to give in to this delicacy which has at least, it is certain, a beneficial effect on the morale.

Moreover, for more than 3,500 years that it has been cultivated, the cocoa tree and its beans have been associated with health, the Aztecs and the Mayans even linked them to their goddess of fertility.

And, if it is in this region of the current Mexico that the manufacture of the chocolate appeared in 1st, it is especially the european industrial revolution of the 19th century which will popularize it, in particular under its always very popular form of hot beverage.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, it was consumed in solid form and as an ingredient in many desserts. Thanks to its easily moldable consistency, it has also been shared for a long time during religious festivities in the form of eggs, rabbits, bells...

In the land of chocophiles

Here are some figures on the consumption of the precious food in France:

  • With 13.2 kg of chocolate/household/year, we are the 5th country that consumes the most (after Switzerland and Germany).
  • Small particularity: dark chocolate is more appreciated here than in the rest of Europe.
  • The industry provides a living for 30,000 employees in France, benefactors who allow us to consume nearly 4 million bars every day!
  • As we can't get enough of it, we eat even more at Christmas (8.5% of annual sales) and Easter (3.9%).
  • Finally, even if supermarkets remain the main distribution channel (70% of sales), sweet tooths are turning more and more to local shops.

Dark, white or milk: whatever your preference, don't hesitate to celebrate World Chocolate Day every October 1st, after all, we owe it all to this product that has been delighting humanity for over 4,000 years. To find out more, book your ticket for a visit to the Musée du Chocolat in Paris.

 

Valérie from Comme des Français


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