Neuhaus

Stepping inside a Neuhaus chocolate shop is like stepping into a time capsule. It takes you back to 1857 Brussels. Imagine the elegant Galerie de la Reine. A Swiss pharmacist, Jean Neuhaus, opened a shop there. He cleverly disguised the bitter taste of his medicines by coating them in a layer of delectable chocolate. Neuhaus wasn’t just a pharmacist though. He was a confectioner at heart. His grandson, Jean Neuhaus Jr., inherited that passion. In 1912, he transformed his grandfather’s idea into something revolutionary. He replaced the medicine inside the chocolate with a luscious filling, giving birth to the first Belgian praline. Right here at Neuhaus, this sweet legacy began. Jean Neuhaus Jr.’s wife, Louise Agostini, also played a crucial role. She noticed the delicate pralines were getting crushed in their paper cone packaging. In 1915, she designed the iconic “ballotin,” the elegant gift box that has become synonymous with Belgian pralines. Neuhaus continued to innovate. In 1958, at the Brussels World Expo, Adelson de Gavre, Jean Jr.’s son-in-law, unveiled the “Caprice” and “Tentation” pralines. These nougatine-shelled delights became instant classics. Neuhaus chocolates even have a royal connection. They are a purveyor to the Belgian royal household. In 1959, the “Albert” praline was created in honor of Prince Albert II’s wedding. This praline blends hazelnut praline, dark chocolate, and a caramelized hazelnut, a nod to Paola’s Italian heritage. Even today, every Neuhaus praline is still crafted in Belgium, near Brussels. The Neuhaus family’s passion for chocolate continues to delight taste buds worldwide. From its humble beginnings in a pharmacy to its status as a world-renowned chocolatier, Neuhaus represents a delicious slice of Belgian history.